Diamond Hardiman, reparative journalism manager for Free Press, spoke with host Siloam Lackey about the role of reparative journalism in conducting more nuanced reporting that truly serves Black communities and uplifts Black journalists.
For centuries, media narratives have harmed Black communities, perpetuating racist stereotypes and fostering Black inferiority. The result? Generations of economic inequality, the justification of systemic racism, and misrepresentation distorting the true essence of Black communities.
"My org, Media 2070, we are campaigning for media reparations, and what that looks like is getting Black people the opportunity to own and produce our stories from ideation to all the way through distribution without disruption," said Diamond Hardiman of Free Press.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for a new approach to journalism, one grounded in repair and care for the Black populace. Enter reparative journalism, a form of reporting that aims to address historical injustices and systemic biases within media narratives that have long marginalized Black communities.
"In terms of public perception, there's so many ways that it [the media] shapes how we understand ourselves, how we reflect the lives that we live back to ourselves, and it shapes how we see our communities, especially ones that we are not a part of, and also the ones that we live in," said Hardiman. "If the media tells you what a problem is, it can also tell you what the solution to that problem is. But if you only have certain voices speaking on what we need to work on, it's kind of a smaller view of understanding of what things can be done with politics, with community work, and with government."
Not only does reparative journalism uplift and serve Black folx, but it also prioritizes the voices of Black journalists. In an industry plagued by a lack of diversity, providing platforms for Black reporters to share their perspectives is a step toward inclusivity and challenging the existing structures of inequality within the industry.
Reparative journalism is far from a trend. It's crucial to the restructuring of journalism as a beacon of truth and justice for Black communities. By centering the voices and experiences of Black folx and journalists, it aims to create a more inclusive and responsible media ecosystem, fulfilling journalism's democratic mission of serving the public good!
To read Media2070's essay, visit https://mediareparations.org/essay/. Please contact Nyasia Almestica at nalmestica@tiannamanon.com to set up an interview with the team to learn about the transformative power of media reparations!
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