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A new study shows that 80% of journalists in the U.K. Come from professional and upper-class backgrounds. That is double the amount of the general workforce, which is only 42%.
Further, reporters were more likely to come from higher class backgrounds (84%) than their editors (73%).
Why does this matter? It matters because the press is supposed to speak for everyone and in the interests of everyone. In the early days of the profession, the typical “newsman” came from a humble background and was “of the people.” If people with the loudest voices are more likely to be upper class, then a diverse perspective is not represented in the profession.
This study was done in the UK but my hypothesis is that the results would be similar or more striking in the U.S.
