The New York Times held a meeting with The New York Times Guild to discuss how to implement measures to improve diversity in their organization, and "improve the working conditions of our colleagues of color."
We met with leadership this month to present a series of recommendations that will create a more diverse and equitable @nytimes. We need a top-to-bottom resetting of priorities to improve the working conditions of our colleagues of color. Here are some highlights: (1/8)
— NYTimesGuild (@NYTimesGuild) July 31, 2020
The result was a "resetting of priorities" highlighted with an eight-point plan that touches on everything from racially-based hiring quotas "at each stage of each hiring process" to instituting "sensitivity reads" very early on in the publishing process (to make sure nobody can possibly get offended by any final content) to an annual pay equity study even down to completely restructuring their op-ed department, with a whole slew of new rules.
The whole brief can be read in its entirety here.
This tweet comes on the heels of the recent resignation of Bari Weiss, citing a toxic and censorious atmosphere at NYT. Besides the Weiss incident, the Times and the journalism industry in general is undergoing a period of great turmoil.
Many journalists are worried about outlets like the Times becoming too ideological and, in the process, losing the thread of ethical journalism, which has long been one of the guiding principles of the whole industry.
People have left overwhelmingly disapproving and even angry comments on the tweet. One person asked if conservative voices will be included in that diversity.
Another one sarcastically mused: "How about the workers take over the New York Times and make it a worker coop?" Another posted a copy of the now viral Weiss resignation letter.
Matt Taibbi asked "what is a 'sensitivity read'?"
What is a "sensitivity read"? https://t.co/IzusqIdibh
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) July 31, 2020
