Diversity and Inclusion at Reuters in 2023

Foreword

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are key to Reuters’ journalistic mission. Our unbiased coverage of global conflicts and political events reflects our newsroom’s diversity. This diverse foundation not only enriches our reporting but better serves our global audience. In 2023, our coverage of conflicts and elections exemplifies our ability to merge local insights with global perspectives. Our dedicated reporters showcase commitment and resilience, embodying Reuters’ core values.

Our 2023 Annual Diversity Report records strides in creating a more inclusive newsroom, alongside the challenges that remain. There has been progress in diversifying leadership, with a rise in leaders from racially or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Women’s leadership increased by three percentage points to 39%. Despite progress, obstacles in progression and equity remain, underscoring our commitment to a newsroom that mirrors our audience. Our journey continues under the steadfast resolve of Editor-in-Chief, Alessandra Galloni.

A reminder of our goals

In 2022, Reuters set targets to enhance editorial leadership diversity by 2025:

• Boost ethnic and racial diversity in senior leadership by at least 20%.
• Double the number of Black leaders.
• Ensure women hold 45% or more senior leadership roles.
• Raise promotions and internal talent filled roles to 65%.

Over the last year, Black leadership increased by 13%, and diverse senior leadership by 11%. The roles filled by internal talent rose to 54%, up from 51%.

Our data

Improving data collection has been essential. Our Count Me In campaign, starting in 2020, encouraged staff to report diversity details. By December 2023, 68% of staff shared race or ethnicity, a 21-point increase since 2020; 47% shared sexual orientation, increasing by 32 points. The data below highlights diversity within Reuters:

• Survey Gender: Gender identity data has grown from 15.6% in 2020 to 46.2% in 2023.
• Sexual Orientation: Reporting increased from 15.3% in 2020 to 47.2% in 2023.
• Race and Ethnicity: Self-reporting rose to 68.1% in 2023 from 47.2% in 2020.
• Disability Reporting: A rise to 23.4% from 1.7% in 2020.

The aggregated data respects individual privacy and is used to promote transparency.

Investing in Our Talent: Staff Training and Growth

Supporting an equitable workplace through learning and development is vital. In 2023, the Editorial Learning team offered initiatives to help journalists excel. These efforts included varied training sessions, webinars, and revamped bootcamps covering essential areas like ethics, cybersecurity, and career development.

Our Newsroom Leadership Seminars improved managers’ skills in leading diverse, global teams. Introducing Editorial Learning Weeks, over 2,200 journalists participated in events ranging from fact-checking to generative AI, enriching both professional skills and self-paced learning options. Plans for 2024 include enhanced AI training, management training, cross-team collaboration opportunities, and flexible career advancement options.

Building An AI-Infused Newsroom

Generative AI provides substantial opportunities within Reuters. Under our Trust Principles, AI enhances journalistic capabilities while ensuring reliability. AI integration focuses on improving speed and efficiency, with editors maintaining content quality. Addressing biases in AI models is guided by our principles, promoting collaboration between data scientists and engineers.

Diverse staff participation in AI training and development empowers creating tailored solutions. AI supports research and repetitive tasks, but meaningful reporting remains driven by human effort. Reuters is steadfast in maintaining accuracy and impartiality as a legacy of excellence.

Building Inclusive Journalism: Race and Justice Reporting

In 2023, we established a Global Race and Justice team to focus on stories through race and justice lenses. Early achievements include essential stories on Black voters, prison overcrowding, and global diversity-equity inclusion efforts. With a focus on broader perspectives, our efforts include integrating equitable sourcing into newsroom goals and expanding diverse voices in our reports.

Highlighting global stories such as corporate board diversity, indigenous rights, and racial justice movements, the commitment to restructuring race coverage remains a priority. Building trust with marginalized groups is ongoing, with increased efforts to represent diverse demographic perspectives in newsrooms worldwide.

Enhancing Visual Storytelling: Progress and Highlights from Our Pictures Team

Our strategy for addressing gender disparity in photography has led to meaningful change. Tracking assignments for women photographers has encouraged improvements in diversity. Celebrating team leaders’ roles, particularly in Asia and Latin America, has led to increased representation and storytelling diversity.

Emphasizing diversity of age, race, gender, and culture helps deliver journalism reflecting a global perspective. Efforts in Latin America started with data-driven recruitment, focusing on social media to discover new female photographers. By 2023, women comprised 36% of photographers, a significant increase. Yet, continual development remains essential for amplifying diverse voices in visual storytelling.

Paving Diverse Paths: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Reporters

Reuters’ diversity initiatives include partnerships with the Overseas Press Club Foundation to support new correspondents. The partnership awards fellowships and scholarships, providing opportunities for international students to gain experience through internships. The talent pipeline has supported journalism careers worldwide.

Likewise, the Thomson Reuters Neurodiversity Internship Program offers opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. In India, 10 paid internships introduced in 2018 have transitioned several interns into full-time employees. This initiative promotes adaptability and understanding within the newsroom, enhancing communication and time management skills. Building on this success will see further growth of inclusive career opportunities.

Living and Reporting the Story – The Israel/Gaza Conflict

Covering the Israel/Gaza conflict is challenging for Reuters reporters facing immediate dangers and emotional strain. Balancing personal impacts with impartial reporting requires resilience. James Mackenzie, Bureau Chief of Israel and Palestinian Territories, acknowledges the pressures faced by journalists deeply connected to the events they cover.

The close-knit team of reporters includes individuals affected by loss due to the conflict. While managing emotional impact, their focus on professional reporting remains steadfast. This commitment denotes high professional standards, leading to recognition through awards for video and photojournalism, underscoring their dedication to integrity and objectivity despite the challenging conditions.

Prioritizing Mental Health: Reuters’ Commitment to Supporting Our Journalists

Mental health support enhances reporters’ performance. In 2023, Reuters prioritized mental wellness in editorial risk assessments, holding workshops and activities to bolster self-care. Highlights included discussions with authors like Amy Morin, courses on trauma-affected sleep, boundary setting, and issues like menopause and mental health.

Complementing these initiatives are thorough year-round mental health services such as the CiC Trauma Program and the Peer Network. These resources provide essential support, allowing journalists to focus on health and resilience while maintaining outstanding reporting standards.

The CiC partnership focuses on stress and trauma support plans across various languages and locations. Emphasizing peer support and journalism trauma referrals, the program tailors solutions for Reuters journalists while promoting mental health awareness.

What’s next…

Our continuous actions, no matter the size, contribute to building a diverse, inclusive newsroom. Future plans include AI training enhancements, diverse talent outreach, cross-team project opportunities, and mental health support training for managers. These efforts are deeply rooted in our mission to deliver excellent, unbiased news globally. A diverse newsroom strengthens our reporting, enriching our understanding of the world. This commitment strives to ensure diverse voices and perspectives remain central to our mission.