Struggling to Achieve Staff Diversity

Staff diversity is a challenge. Over the past ten years as an adviser, there have probably only been less than male students on either of my publication staffs – newspaper or yearbook. When our school began the process of becoming an IBO World school five years ago, my publications were predominantly staffed by traditional students. Now, we are the complete opposite.

It is because of these diversity challenges that we have tried to make a conscious effort to make sure our coverage does not reflect what our staff picture looks like. This past year, we printed out the demographic make-up of our student body and it was helpful to see the numbers of our school’s student population.

With every spread or story topic we visited, we were constantly looking to see that we included a male, a female, freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, IB, traditional, white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Indian.  

As far as recruiting goes, however, I feel like my hands are tied with guidance and the lure of AP courses. Students at our schools are pretty much limited to one elective, especially those in the international baccalaureate program. Traditional students are required to take reading for a minimum of two years and then they want to take driver’s education. The top students are compelled to take Advanced Placement courses to boost grade point averages, while the lower level students are doubling up on core courses because they are not passing the End of Course exams being given by the state of Fla.

I would love to see a publication staff picture that is more representative of our school’s population over the next few years. Ideas from others on how you recruit staff members?

Jill Burns

Robinson High School
Tampa, Fla.