Reuters launches initiatives to increase newsroom diversity

Reuters announced two new initiatives to increase newsroom diversity for emerging journalists and members of National Association of Black Journalists.

In partnership with the Facebook Journalism Project, an emerging journalist recruited by NABJ will receive a year-long fellowship with Reuters in 2021. A journalist selected by NABJ will join the Reuters Fact Check team and receive training opportunities throughout the year by NABJ and CrowdTangle, a public insights tool from Facebook to aid professional development.

This comes as part of a wider Facebook initiative, in which nine journalists will have an opportunity to participate in a year-long fellowship in newsrooms of IFCN-certified fact-checking organizations in the United States.

Reuters has also launched a new scholarship fund in partnership with CUNY’s Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, awarding a full-tuition scholarship to an NABJ member, for applicants of the 2021-2022 academic year and enrolling in Fall 2021. The admissions team will consider students with an interest in financial, business or political reporting, including experience in data analysis, investigative reporting skills or fluency in multiple languages.

The NABJ recipient of the scholarship will receive a variety of training opportunities by Reuters newsroom, including mentorship by editors throughout the academic year, inclusion in Reuters learning events and a paid 10-week summer internship with Reuters.

“At Reuters, we are dedicated to supporting new and aspiring journalists and helping them to develop their skills. Working with NABJ, Facebook and CUNY will help us advance our efforts to better reflect the world we cover – and ultimately help create a more diverse news industry,” said Reuters editor in chief Stephen J. Adler in a statement.