Sources aren’t just in the Ivory Tower. They’re in the grassroots, too.
Academic attainment has long been considered the prerequisite for a useful source, as is the ability to “have the right sound” and articulate in sound bites. But these standards leave untold numbers of community residents out of the conversation. As a result, the industry misses impactful community voices who can advance and further contextualize social issues, and the communities don’t get to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the news. WHYY is committed to source diversity, and we accomplish it by acknowledging that expertise comes in many forms.
Who
In this database, you’ll find the names and contact information of grassroots leaders across the Philadelphia region whose expertise, which spans the spectrum from housing and health to politics and policing, is rooted in lived experience.
Why
At WHYY, we believe that our journalism best serves our audience when the voices in it are fully representative of our region. Our newsroom is committed to source diversity and this database advances that work.
How
Simply choose a subject and explore the leaders and doers who are available to speak to you about it.
WHYY Source Diversity
WHYY recognizes that there are countless knowledgeable sources every day in communities who feel unseen and unheard of by traditional news organizations. Our goal with this database is to acknowledge the wisdom and lived experience of grassroots leaders and enable their human capital to inform our original reporting.
Objectives:
- Promote cultural competence
- Enhance our journalism
- Connect with Communities