Diversity Policy

WHAT THE GUARDIAN STANDS FOR

Our Commitment

The Guardian is committed to reflecting the full diversity of Nigerian society in our journalism. We owe allegiance to no ethnic community or interest group, and we believe diverse perspectives and voices make our journalism stronger, more accurate, and more relevant to all Nigerians.

Our primary commitment is to the integrity and sovereignty of the Federation of Nigeria, and we recognize that serving this commitment requires representing all regions, communities, and perspectives across our nation.

Why Diversity Matters in Journalism

  • Nigeria’s diversity is a source of strength that should be reflected in our coverage
  • Homogeneous perspectives lead to incomplete and sometimes inaccurate reporting
  • All Nigerians deserve to see themselves represented fairly in media
  • Diverse newsrooms produce more innovative and comprehensive journalism
  • Presenting balanced coverage of events requires diverse voices and perspectives

Diversity in Story Selection

Geographic Diversity

  • We cover all regions of Nigeria, not just Lagos, Abuja and other major cities
  • We seek stories from rural and urban communities across all states
  • We report on issues affecting different localities and regions
  • We avoid geographic bias in story prioritization
  • We maintain metro coverage that reflects the diversity of Nigerian communities

Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

  • We represent Nigeria’s ethnic diversity in our coverage
  • We avoid stereotyping based on ethnicity
  • We seek sources and perspectives from diverse ethnic communities
  • We report thoughtfully on inter-ethnic issues
  • We owe allegiance to no ethnic community

Socioeconomic Diversity

  • We report on issues affecting Nigerians across the economic spectrum
  • We give voice to economically marginalized communities
  • We support equal access to the nation’s resources for all citizens
  • We report on efforts to ensure all citizens have access to basic necessities of life

Diversity in Sources

We strive for source diversity by:

  • Maintaining diverse source lists across beats (Aviation, Capital Market, Energy, Maritime, Industry, Insurance, etc.)
  • Actively seeking sources beyond the usual experts
  • Including voices from communities directly affected by issues
  • Balancing male and female sources in our reporting
  • Including young and emerging voices alongside established experts
  • Seeking geographic diversity in sources across all Nigerian regions

We aim for at least 40% female sources across our coverage in general.

Measuring Progress

We track:

  • Geographic distribution of stories across Nigerian regions
  • Gender balance in sources and bylines
  • Representation of different communities in coverage
  • Reader feedback on representation
  • Diversity across our coverage areas (Aviation, Capital Market, Energy, Fashion, Beauty, Education, Sports, etc.)

We publish updates on these metrics annually to hold ourselves accountable.

Contact

For questions about our diversity initiatives:

The Guardian

Rutam House, Plot 103/109, Apapa-Oshodi Express Way, Isolo

P.M.B 1217 Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria

Phone: +234 803 056 7059