Second letter in response to the Society of Editors

On Thursday (15 July) the Society of Editors announced the winners of its annual awards which were postponed after widespread dismay and anger over its statement denying the existence of racism and bigotry in the UK press in its response to Oprah Winfrey’s interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

We are pleased that the nominees have finally been able to receive their awards but deplore the fact that the Society of Editors has not used the interim period or the event of the awards to show genuine commitment to atoning for its insulting and ham-fisted blanket denial of racism.

Without admitting that racism exists and retracting their previous missive, the Society of Editors are denying the lived experiences of journalists of colour as well as those who have had unfavourable media coverage purely because of the colour of their skin.

Instead the society seems to have taken a stance of offering a few crumbs in the hope that it will douse the anger it provoked.

The society’s diversity initiatives are welcome but inadequate. It does not have the power to solve the longstanding industry-wide issues of inequality and lack of coverage. However, what it can and should do is offer moral leadership. By its silence, it is singularly failing to do so.

We, the undersigned journalists of colour, cannot have faith in an organisation that is so detached from our reality and we would urge its member organisations to consider their continued participation in the group.

1. Grace Shutti, Journalist, The Guardian
2. Ore Agbaje-Williams, Editor
3. Yassmin Abdel-Magied, writer, broadcaster
4. Jason Okundaye Writer, Freelance
5. Julia Carrie Wong, Journalist, Guardian US
6. Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior economics commentator, The Guardian
7. Lou Mensah, Broadcaster, Shade Podcast
8. Nikhita Chulani, Editor, The Guardian
9. Afua Adom, Journalist and broadcaster, Freelance
10. Halima Ali, Journalist, The Guardian
11. Kurt Barling, Professor of Journalism and fmr BBC Special Correspondent, Middlesex University
12. Shona Ghosh, Senior editor, Insider
13. Leone Ross, Writer/Editor, Freelance
14. Joseph Harker, Journalist, The Guardian
15. David Olusoga, Filmmaker/writer, Freelance
16. Zita Holbourne, Writer and Author, BARAC UK
17. Maya Wolfe-Robinson, Reporter, The Guardian
18. Jeevan Ravindran, Journalist
19. Keme Nzerem, correspondent, nzerem limited
20. K Biswas, Critic, Editor of Representology
21. Désirée Reynolds, Writer/Journalist, Freelance
22. Mythili Rao, journalist, The Guardian
23. Shaista Aziz, Journalist, Freelance
24. Nosheen Iqbal, Journalist, The Guardian
25. Marcus Ryder, Journalist, Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity
26. Marverine Cole, Journalist & Broadcaster, Freelance
27. Marvyn Harrison, Executive Editor, Dope Black Thought
28. Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Writer, Freelance
29. Ellen E Jones, Film and TV journalist, Freelance
30. Preeti Jha, Journalist, Freelance
31. Tara Srinivasan, Editor, The Guardian
32. Shanthy Milne, Writer, journalist, documentary maker, Freelance
33. Lola Okolosie, Writer, Freelance
34. Germaine Slater-Arnold, Sub-editor, The Times and Sunday Times
35. Mehreen Khan, Journalist, Financial Times
36. Moya Lothian-Mclean, Editor, Gal-dem
37. Zoe Daniel, Journalist, Freelance
38. Josh Toussaint-Strauss, Journalist/producer, The Guardian
39. Hibaq Farah, Journalist, City Journalism
40. Holly Henry-Long, Producer, Freelance
41. Kemi Alemoru, Journalist, gal-dem
42. Annalisa Toccara, Journalist, Freelance
43. Tchiyiwe Chihana, Journalist, African Voices Platform
44. Priya Elan, Journalist, The Guardian
45. Sachin Nakrani, Writer & Editor, The Guardian
46. Homa Khaleeli, Journalist, The Guardian
47. Mariel Richards, CEO, gal-dem
48. Aasha Kimpton, Writer, Freelance
49. Joshua Surtees, Writer/Journalist, The Guardian
50. Marc Deanie, Journalist, DC Thomson
51. Basit Mahmood, Co-editor, Left Foot Forward
52. Tineka Smith, Author and writer
53. Suyin Haynes, Editor in Chief, gal-dem
54. Alice Xin Liu Writer, translator, editor, Freelance
55. Rianna Walcott Writer, researcher, King’s College London/freelance
56. Tara Joshi, Writer and music editor, gal-dem and freelance
57. Anita Chaudhuri, Associate editor, Psychologies magazine
58. Steve Rose, Writer, Freelance
59. Anita Bhagwandas, Journalist, Freelance
60. Radhika Holmstrom, Journalist, Freelance
61. Mildred Talabi, Ex Journalist, Self-Employed
62. Nina lakhani, Journalist, The Guardian
63. Anita Sethi, Writer and journalist, author of ‘I Belong Here: a Journey Along the Backbone of Britain’ (Bloomsbury) Author, I Belong Here (Bloomsbury)
64. Kuba Shand-Baptiste, Assistant Opinion Editor, The i
65. Kyra Ho, Audio journalist, Freelance
66. Micha Frazer-Carroll, Columnist, the Independent
67. Sakhr Al-Makhadhi, Journalist
68. Aaron Walawalkar, Journalist
69. Laura Smith, Managing Editor, Speak Media
70. Khaleda Rahman, Journalist, Newsweek
71. Ian Wang, Culture writer, Freelance
72. Shanthy Milne, Writer, journalist, documentary maker, Freelance
73. Faima Bakar, Journalist, Freelance
74. Maaiysa Valli, Journalist
75. Rajitha Rebecca Ratnam, Content Designer, DVSA, Civil Service
76. Zing Tsjeng, Editor, VICE UK
77. Afshan D’souza-Lodhi, Writer
78. Lucy Fulford, Journalist, Freelance
79. Shirley May, Writer, freelance
80. Abbianca, Journalist
81. Coco Khan, Columnist, The Guardian
82. Poppy Noor, Features editor, Guardian US
83. Tania Branigan, Journalist, The Guardian
84. Ammar Kalia, Journalist, The Guardian
85. Hannah J Davies, Writer and editor, The Guardian
86. Sam Phan, Writer, Freelance
87. Angela Foster, Journalist, The Guardian
88. Diana Evans, Writer, freelance
89. Randeep Ramesh, Journalist, The Guardian
90. Oliver Laughland, Journalist, The Guardian
91. Malik Meer, Editor, Guardian US
92. Devika Bhat, Journalist, The Guardian
93. Nesrine Malik, Columnist
94. Josh Lee Commissioning, Editor and writer, The Guardian + various
95. Aisha Riaz, Production editor, GNM
96. Nimra Shahid, Journalist, Freelance
97. Lanre Bakare, Arts and culture correspondent, The Guardian
98. Courtney Yusuf, Audio Producer, The Guardian
99. Madeleine Coffey, Coordinator, Netflix
100. Tumaini Carayol, Journalist, The Guardian
101. Mona Chalabi, Editor, The Guardian
102. Dr Omega Douglas, Academic, journalist, writer, Goldsmiths College, University of London
103. Christine Ochefu, Journalist and editor, Freelance
104. Elizabeth Pears, News editor, FT
105. Haroon Siddique, Journalist, The Guardian
106. Hajra Rahim, Journalist
107. Victoria Ibitoye, Senior Correspondent, MLex
108. Enjoli Liston, news editor, The Guardian, US
109. Merve Logman, Writer
110. Raffy Rauter Production Coordinator Netflix
111. Nadia Khomami, Journalist, The Guardian
112. Mirza Waheed, Writer
113. Saba Salman, Journalist, Freelance/The Guardian
114. Rasheda Malcolm ,Author, Journalist, The WILDE Foundation
115. Amerley Ollennu, Journalist, Freelance
116. Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi, Journalist Shine A Light (co-editor) and Freelance
117. Emmanuel Akinwotu, Journalist, The Guardian
118. Sudip Roy, Journalist, Refinitiv
119. Samira Shackle Journalist, Freelance
120. Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, Editor
121. Desree Gumbs-Carty Writer, Freelance
122. Farah Jassat, Journalist & Head of Podcasts, Intelligence Squared
123. Nina Robinson, CEO, Soundtruism Productions