thanks Megan!

Has James checked in yet?

I don't see a host or the gallery from my end.

"How To Be a Better Ally: Fighting Racism in Travel Media".Presented by:https://satw.org/satw-commitment-to-diversity/

Thank you for inviting me!

Happy to have you join us Ruthy

Well said

Yes Symeria! 100%

Alex you are a superstar, we appreciate your commitment!

Yes Imani!

Great examples Alex.

Thank you for this insight. This is extremely helpful for watching how our work goes through edits.

As we write, we also need to add 'people' back into our verbiage. Black people vs. blacks. Gay people vs. gays. Republican legislators vs. Republicans, etc.

Lisa, yes. That is something I have come to learn from Cory Lee, pertaining to people with disabilities. “People first” language.

Yes, pay bias readers! I’m working with one now.

Yes, all great points!I've personally experienced this a lot with editors and unconscious bias, especially when writing about Scandinavia as a Black woman.

Thank you Alex, those examples are really valuable.

This is such an important discussion! Thank you, ladies!

Should I feel obligated, offended or responsible for being the sensitivity reader in my office?

Not paying for expertise is hugely problematic too. Glad you mentioned that, Alex.

Exactly!! You have to rebuild the foundation to be better in a sustainable way - Well said Symeria.

Very important!!!

Yes, Bex!!

It is so valuable to not only know the people who will be valuable in your community but continually champion and learn and witness the conversations always.

Yes! Amen! Like Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanics and Latinos deserve to tell stories 365 days a year. Not just one month a year.

Yes! Telling diverse stories only during Black History Month or Pride month is like a form of tokenism.

Jeannette, YES! I really struggle with this because I want to respect those periods of showcasing those voices and yet I don’t want that to be a limit and want to have conversations with a diverse community always and it feels contradictory to that.

I hope it’s appropriate for me to post this, but myself and a few other editors started this initiative to elevate voices, build relationships and help outdoor media better reflect our participants. We invite anyone to join this group—wether you work as a freelance content creator or in an editorial role: https://www.snewsnet.com/press-release/outdoor-editors-form-outdoor-media-4-inclusion

Sorry, I meant to post this to attendees

That is unconscionable for a PR person to behave that way. You need to call them out for that behavior. Ditto for any writers behaving similarly.

Alex, what do you say when you "speak up"?

Can totally identify with everything Alex is talking about right now, has happened so many times on press trips where I am almost always the one nonwhite person!

I love what you said about relationship building, Bex. That is so important and greatly overlooked. Not just relationships with writers but also establishing relationships with people you meet and interview. Writers shouldn't take it for granted that people are willing to share their stories with writers.

That is unconscionable for a PR person to behave that way. You need to call them out for that behavior. Ditto for any writers behaving similarly.

It’s always important to speak up.

I hope it’s appropriate for me to post this, but myself and a few other editors started this initiative to elevate voices, build relationships and help outdoor media better reflect our participants. We invite anyone to join this group—wether you work as a freelance content creator or in an editorial role: https://www.snewsnet.com/press-release/outdoor-editors-form-outdoor-media-4-inclusion

First, I'm so sorry any of you have faced discrimination, cruelty and/or stupidity. So sorry I have to leave for a work meeting but can't wait to watch the recording - our panelists are amazing. THANK YOU! I'd love to continue this dialogue! Great job everyone.

Yes Imani!

So admirable and needed.

Thank you for your voice Imani

Yep!

Great point Bex, totally agree!

Excellent point. It is all of our responsibility.

Exactly. We need to pay attention to lived experience.

Could not agree more. It costs white people far less to speak up. There’s no excuse not to.

Powerful. Thank you all!

Many people are learning what that means and conversations like this show them that they aren’t alone when it speaking up is required.

Bex makes a great point there, no excuses!

That's so true, Megan. Stronger together.

That's so true, Megan. Stronger together!

While some of us older white women may have been socialized not to “make waves” or speak up, once we do, we usually find we have a lot more power than we thought. And as Bex, Alex, Imani et al are saying, it’s absolutely imperative that we do speak up, proactively as well as reactively.

How can individuals add their paper trail to others to help show a pattern? Where can people go to share/report these micro aggressions, especially when they happen on press trips?

Jeanne, that is powerful.

Megan, in my experience, a lot can be done with talking to fellow press trip attendees, as well as other colleagues who may have worked with the individual before. Comparing notes turns up a lot.

Great point Alex. The network supports each other.

Just like what’s happening in the US. We need to hold people accountable for real change.

Good points, Alex. As Jill notes, comparing notes on press trips is always helpful.

An easy way to not get defensive is to actually listen to what’s being said.

Totally agree!! ^^

Those black squares LAWD

Yay Travel + Leisure!!!

Definitely. Not to make one month or news cycle significantly about a certain culture or background but to do so regularly.

Hi Theresa I see your hand is raised...is there something I can assist you with?

So true Jill. Also important to remember that we’re going to mess up. Focus on feeling gratitude for feedback that can help us improve as allies.

Do you have a question that you feel hasn’t been addressed?

Yes to Intrepid!

Yay INTREPID!!!!

Yes to Intrepid

Bex: excellent point about tokenism

Exactly!

Thank you Bex. I want to be inclusive and share all voices and not because it checks some box but because your story is valuable, period.

Another great example of non-tokenism. Engaging diverse writers to write about general travel stories too.

Great point, Symeria!

Great panel!

I must leave, but thanks to all the panelists and organizers for thoughtful, usable information and ideas for action! Well spoken.

Great discussion, thank you everyone

Great point!

So many well said, actionable points... thanks for doing this

Yes Bex! We should be curious about different perspectives.

Thanks for a great discussion

Great message Bex. Love what Intrepid is doing.

Even when called out, the good thing is that there’s a path to improvement.

Thanks to you all for addressing this important topic.

Thank you all! Very helpful!

Thank you all so much for this seminar.

Outstanding and important discussion. Thanks all!

Wow Alex. Thank you for that.

Thank you all so much for this conversation and sharing your perspectives. I recognize it is hard work and yet I really think the hardest part is walking through uncomfortable conversations and yet it is the right thing and I am willing to get uncomfortable and learn and support all voices. Thanks again!

Thank you so much for this discussion. So good.

Waving hello from Eugene, Oregon. Thanks for a great discussion. I will work to be a betty ally!

Thank you, panelists. I appreciate that you've invested your time and energy so we can all continue our learning.

Thank you all for a fab discussion! Have a great day

I would love to create a writers pledge that “I will not go on all-white press trips” and have PR agencies/destinations sign a similar pledge not to create them. I appreciate your feedback if you would like to email me at hawaii.insider@gmail.com … Many thanks for the great conversation!

Wonderful and mind-expanding dialogue. Thank You so very much!

Thanks everyone and SATW for this important discussion.

Outstanding conversation! Thank you all for sharing experiences, insights and practical tips! I had been anxious about taking action about a particular matter. You've inspired me to do so...today!

Thank you for this invigorating discussion, which I look forward to continuing in the months and years to come!

Thank you very much, everyone!

Great call to action! Thank you so much for these insights #learning

This has been a great conversation. Thank you to all the panelists for sharing their stories and ideas.

I recognize that giving people the ability to self-identify different parts of their personal identity is important in a process of what a diverse group or press trip means. Identity is not always something that's obvious externally.

Spot on Bex

This has been an excellent conversation. Thank you to all of the panelists for sharing your insight.

Thank you everyone for joining!! Looking forward to seeing how we all can do better!!

Thank you everyone, great panel and insights!

So amazing!! Thank you everyone

A huge thanks to our panelists for sharing their perspectives and experiences. Likewise, thanks to the large number of SATW members, and guests for joining us today.

This was a wonderful panel! Thank you so much to our panelists!

Thanks to all the panelists for a great conversation!

Thank you all for your time and being committed to progression and change! 🙏🏾

Many thanks for opening up this event!

Yes, this session is being recorded and will be shared on the Diversity page of SATW.org.

Great, informative and useful panel! Thanks everyone!

Thank you to all the panelists for speaking and sharing your truths with us, and for your time and energy.

Thanks Vickie!

Thank you!