Diversity within a story, not as the story
By Stephanie Silver
University of Maryland

LAS VEGAS -- It is a question that resonates in every newsroom: How can our newspaper relate to all our readers?

Keith Woods, a member of The Poynter Institute faculty and Wednesday's keynote speaker, talked about diversity as a basic element of storytelling. By revealing universal human truths in our stories, we'll speak to everyone, he said.

He made that point powerfully by weaving a dramatic story throughout his speech. It was a personal account of the weeks of uncertainty he and his wife endured as they waited for test results that would reveal the health of their unborn child. In telling the story, Woods connected with everyone in the audience.

"Diversity," he said, "is the universal sameness within our differences."

No matter who the reader is, he or she wants a story with tension, resolution, meaningful quotes, characters, smooth transitions and, when possible, dialogue. If it is done correctly, Woods said, "they'll find a piece of their story in yours."

Woods, speaking to about 150 people at the 56th annual AASFE convention, put to rest the notion that diversity in journalism is just about hiring more non-whites, finding more Asian and Muslim contacts or covering gays as part of a Valentine's Day package.

"We spend too much time on the what and how of diversity," Woods said. "We must ask why."

His message to editors: Question your own definition of diversity. Get beyond the well-meaning but superficial solutions, and engage in the more complicated questions.

Woods defined diversity as action. He challenged editors to pursue it aggressively, "because it will not happen on its own."

Place a high value on reporters and editors who have the curiosity, initiative and follow-through to cover the under-covered, he said. And be willing to admit there's always more to learn.

"Humility," Woods said, "is important in helping me to understand you, helping you to understand them, and helping them to understand us."

Woods offered the idea that all people live their lives from one story to the next, from character to character.

"We all talk the language of stories," he concluded.

Woods is also the project director for "Media Diversity Beyond 2000," a joint effort between The Poynter Institute and the Ford Foundation, which seeks to discover and highlight what makes diversity efforts succeed.

Stephanie Silver, a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism, is one of eight fellows attending the convention and filing reports from it.