Diversity come in all shapes, sizes at Oswego State Media Summit

Diversity in all of its forms is what drove panelists Michelle Garcia, editor at Mic. com, Kendis Gibson ABC News Correspondent, Dave Longley, Chief meteorologist at WSYR-TV, and Jennifer Sanders, a news anchor at WSYR-TV to the Oswego State Media Summit.

Three out of the four panelists at this year’s media summit are Oswego Alumni. This was also the first year having a student moderator on the panel.

The media is populated with different races, genders and disabilities, but it is our job as aspiring media professionals to break the barriers that still stand in the way of becoming an even more diverse industry.

The panelists provided knowledge and experience on the issues of equality and diversity in the media to students and alumni while throwing in bits of advice along the way, making sure everyone understood that diversity does not end with just race issues.

“Identity is a lens through which you see the world,” Garcia said. “It’s about bringing perspective from all walks of life.”

Garcia gave her take on being a queer Latina woman in an editorial position for a liberal online publication. She shared her want of making stories around diverse groups of people marketable to a wider range of demographics.

“We have to find ways to say ‘OK, how do we make somebody care about this?’” said Garcia while talking about a piece about a black woman who has been kicked out of her home.

Longely didn’t waste time making sure the issue of disability was just as prominent in the media as race and gender.

“The scientist in me says, ok I have MS, what do I do about it?” Longley said. “Here’s what I am, here’s what I do, take it or leave it.”

While diversity is an issue which spans from race to gender to disability, Sanders says providing more diversity in the media industry falls on the networks.

“You have to have people behind the scenes, like the key decision makers, interested in representing diversity,” Sanders said. “We don’t need a shooting to happen or anything negative to look at the black community.”

The panelists encouraged students to question those who have been in the business for some time.

“We need diversity in the news room,” Longley said. “Don’t be afraid to ask older people their perspective.”

Breaking barriers was also on the agenda of Sanders, telling students to push forward through any road blocks.

“If I had listened to them (producers), I’d still be behind the camera,” Sanders said. “Then I would’t be here today.”