The Eagle has released a staff diversity report for the past two years in our efforts to increase diversity and maintain transparency for members of the American University community.
The results of The Eagle’s spring 2024 demographic survey indicate an increase in Asian and multiracial representation and a decrease in Black, Hispanic or Latino, LGBTQ+ and disabled representation among staff.
Staff diversity report
The data for the staff diversity report were collected through The Eagle’s spring 2024 staff acceptance form, which all spring staff members filled out upon acceptance to The Eagle. The form asks optional demographic questions about race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and financial aid status.
This semester, The Eagle has 115 staffers, down slightly from last semester’s record high of 118.
According to the form, the number of staff members who identify as white increased from fall 2023 and past semesters, from about 71 to 74 percent. This figure is nearly 18 percent higher than American University undergraduates overall.
Data from the acceptance form also show an increase in Asian representation, up 2 percent from the fall, and a decrease in Middle Eastern or North African and Hispanic or Latino representation. The percentage of staffers who identify as Black nearly halved from 5.1 to 2.6 percent.
The majority of staff who chose to disclose their sexual orientation identify as heterosexual, up from about 50 percent in the fall to 57 percent. This semester, nearly 35 percent of staffers identify as LGBTQ+, down from 44 percent last semester. Among those who self-identified as LGBTQ+, there was a 3.7 percent increase in staffers who identify as asexual.
Although the majority of staffers identify as female — continuing a trend from past semesters — the percentage of female staffers decreased by 1.7 percent from the spring. This semester has seen a 1.5 percent increase in male staffers and a slight decrease in gender-neutral/nonconforming staff members.
The vast majority of staffers identify as non-disabled, continuing the trend from previous semesters. 8.7 percent of staffers identify as disabled this semester, down from 10.2 percent in the fall.
The staff demographics show a sharp decline in staffers who receive a Pell Grant; the current number of Pell Grant recipients is less than half of the fall’s Pell Grant recipients. 39.4 percent of staffers who responded to the question receive federal financial aid, but not the Pell Grant.
Most staffers are students in the School of Communication, with a total of 72 staffers in SOC, 38 in the School of Public Affairs, 20 in the College of Arts and Sciences, nine in the School of International Service, four in the Kogod School of Business and one in the School of Education. This data accounts for students who have majors and/or minors in more than one school, which explains why the total sum is greater than the total number of spring staffers.
DEI spring efforts
The Eagle’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group continues to meet biweekly and is committed to improving the diversity of its staff and coverage.
At the most recent meeting, News Managing Editor Abigail Turner and Multimedia Managing Editor Izzy Fantini discussed the ethics of covering vigils and protests on campus. The two editors reviewed proper practice for The Eagle’s staff writers and photographers in coverage of sensitive topics.
Editor-in-Chief Abigail Pritchard wrote a letter to a diverse range of AU student organizations encouraging executive board members to schedule one-on-one meetings with leaders of The Eagle. Through this initiative, Pritchard said she hopes these meetings will foster long-term relationships with The Eagle and improve the paper’s diverse coverage.
This article was edited by Abigail Turner and Abigail Pritchard. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Isabelle Kravis and Ariana Kavoossi.
