Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Unbias the News, we are committed to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion. We explicitly prohibit discrimination in employment, educational programs and activities on the basis of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, pregnancy, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, resident status, associational preferences, or any other classifications that deprives the person of consideration as an individual.
Our 2021 Team Statistics
5 employees (part-time), 5 freelance team members.
3 European, 3 Asian, 2 African, 1 North American, 1 South American.
9 women, 1 man.
7 out of 10 team members.
1 American, 1 Egyptian, 1 Filippino, 2 German, 1 Indian, 1 Nigerian, 1 Pakistani, 1 Swedish, 1 Venezuelan.
We collaborate with international freelance reporters and illustrators around the world. Our first call for pitches in spring 2021 targeted journalists who experience structural barriers or discrimination based on their geographical location, ethnic origin, gender, disability, class, caste, age or religion.
For our first open call for pitches in 2021, we received:
- 701 eligible story pitches
- submitted by journalists from 85 countries
- 67,2% based in countries where press freedom is under attack.
Our geographically diverse, remote editorial team at Unbias the News developed a collaborative and inclusive selection process to select and commission the first set of stories. All commissioned reporters and illustrators receive equal pay for equal work, regardless of geographical location or professional experience.
Our Commitments
As a team, we are committed to an ongoing journey of (un-)learning and taking action to contribute to change in journalism. We have adopted the following initiatives and conventions as guidelines:
As a member of the DEI Coalition For Anti-Racist, Equitable, And Just Newsrooms, we follow and accept the Coalition’s terms and definitions:
- Anti-racist as defined by Ibram X. Kendi: “An antiracist idea is any idea that suggests the racial groups are equals in all their apparent differences — that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group. Antiracist ideas argue that racist policies are the cause of racial inequities.” (On How to be an Antiracist, 2019)
- Equitable as “an equitable distribution of opportunities, such as everyone being provided with what they need to ensure they do their best. It is enhanced when paired with a sense of belonging and safety. Equity aims to fix inequality by recognizing that people do not start on equal footing, that there is no right-sized solution for every individual, and that we need to identify custom solutions to address inequality.”
- Just understood as a workplace “where people, work, ideas, data, and life stories are respected for their own merit as part of what creates a productive, sustainable, and thriving work environment for media professionals. Achieving just workplaces requires intentional introspection and active work to dismantle existing barriers around each facet of the workplace. You know you have created a just workplace when equitable access to custom tools and opportunities is the default state.”
We are committed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We accept CEDAW’s definition of “discrimination against women” to mean “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex that has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”
We are dedicated to:
- Equal representation (or more) of those identifying as “women” in our newsroom staff, consultants, freelancers, and producers.
- A commitment to accurately and ethically ensure balanced reporting on issues pertaining to women globally.
- Provide journalists and media professionals identifying as “women” equal opportunities to collaborate with our newsroom.
The team at Hostwriter commits to the 1965 Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and accepts its definition of racial discrimination: “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life”. In addition, the team commits to other obligations outlined in the treaty, including:
- Equal representation of people from different racial and ethnic background in our staff and in our publications,
- Commitment to avoid spreading or amplifying propaganda based on ideas of white supremacy or racial superiority of one group,
- Rejection of all forms of racial segregation and apartheid.