New York launches race-based $500,000 journalism scholarship to fix 'lack of diversity' in newsrooms

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city will be granting an annual $500,000 in scholarships to "increase diversity in journalism." The scholarship money will be only be for "students of color." 

The annoucement for the scholarship was made in a press release on July 21. The scholarship fund was made to "expand access to educational opportunities for New York City students of color and increase diversity within journalism." 

The announcement points to the "lack of diversity" found in newsrooms which Adam's office called a "deep-rooted issue in journalism." It goes on to say that the "Adams administration has already begun conversations with leading journalism schools across the country to discuss ways to effectively cross-promote [the] initiative."  

According to Adams, the scholarship will "help support students from New York City as they work to repair the inequities we’re seeing in newsrooms." The press release says that this increase in scholarships will increase the diversity of and "ensure more New Yorkers... can join this vital industry" that keeps people in power accountable.  

Donations to the "Diversity in Journalism Fund" are part of the "Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City." The Mayor's Fund is a nonprofits and works with hundreds of other organizations to make changes through the relationships of private and government organizations.  

The Mayor's Fund claims that it was made to "advance initiatives that improve the lives of residents in all five boroughs" across New York City. The website says that it "seeks to seed promising, evidence-based models" for bringing solutions to the city.  

Donors to the Mayor's Fund include the left-wing mega-donor George Soros' Open Society Foundations. The foundation has been part of the fund's "donor spotlight." One of Soros' children, Jonathan Soros, and his wife Jennifer, with their organization, the Jennifer & Jonathan Allan Soros Foundation, also support the Mayor's Fund.  

Another DEI initative, unrelated to the Diversity in Journalism Fund, taken on by the organization includes the "Diversity Initiative" which is designed to "increase the diversity of the staff and boards of New York City's cultural and community organizations."