Podcast 67 – Will Prince Harry’s allegation that the UK press are bigoted, nudge news outlets to become more diverse?

It cannot be doubted that race is a factor in the way Meghan has been treated by certain UK tabloids. The clear message from many of the headlines has been racist or at the very least micro-aggression, with readers drip fed a consistent message that: Meghan is not one of us – she doesn’t look like us - she doesn’t act like us - she doesn’t speak like us. 

The treatment of Meghan was and is, in stark contrast to other members of the Royal family who receive more positive coverage.

It seems that Harry and Meghan are not the only people who feel that the UK press needs to take a good hard look at the way in which they report in general. Since Prince Harry’s comments to Oprah that the UK press, especially tabloid newspapers, were "bigoted" many journalists have come out to say that they agree.

CNN has reported  on the issue, making reference to a 2016 and a 2020 report by the Reuters Institute which show how underrepresented people of colour and women are in UK newsrooms. 

Meghan and Harry have announced that they are doing their little bit to encourage diversity in the media. They have made a donation through their Archewell Foundation to the UK PressPad Charitable Foundation.

 https://presspad.co.uk/

PressPad describe themselves as a social enterprise that is fighting to lower the financial barriers of entry into journalism, so seeking to improve the socio-economic diversity within the media. The organization links young people with journalism work experience in London, helping to fund the student in the process. 

PressPad point out that to get a job in journalism you need work experience. An internship is now seen as an essential part of how people get a chance to hone their journalistic skills and prove themselves to future employers, BUT, most internships are unpaid. This is where PressPad can help.

In February 2021 PressPad set up a charitable foundation to help them accept donations and to formulize their bursary and grant scheme, and to make them more financially sustainable. 

Keep looking out for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry and Archie, and reach out to me through my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/