NPR reporter apologizes after being called out for 'diversity' gaffe

Somebody on the education beat at NPR stirred up a hornet’s nest.

I reach out to diverse sources on deadline. Only the white guys get back to me 🙁

— NPR's Education Team (@npr_ed) July 2, 2014

Ouch.

This isn’t going to end well for someone. NPR doesn’t tolerate straying beyond the boundaries of political correctness. Just ask Juan Williams.

@npr_ed wow. Seriously?!

— Manuel Aragon (@Spacejunc) July 7, 2014

https://twitter.com/Ana_ExAFLCIO/status/485955653958377472

WTF?! RT@npr_ed I reach out to diverse sources on deadline. Only the white guys get back to me 🙁

— Dyan Flores (@dyancflores) July 7, 2014

Disgusting bigots over at @npr_ed: "I reach out to diverse sources on deadline.Only the white guys get back to me:(" pic.twitter.com/CxfL55WVN3

— Ana Rosa Quintana (@ana_r_quintana) July 7, 2014

Actual tweet from Twitter profile of @npr_ed. WTF. Read on. pic.twitter.com/I12z6s62Ck

— Latino Rebels (@latinorebels) July 7, 2014

@npr_ed what's a diverse source?

— Aaron Leaf (@aaronleaf) July 7, 2014

Something other than a “white guy” most likely.

@latinorebels @npr_ed shame…social media intern probably forgot to switch accounts

— Michael (@LookMaICanWrite) July 7, 2014

Probably a good guess.

Either way, someone is going to have a bad Monday.

Update:

The original story did not contain the following tweets which add further context to this story, so we are including them here:

That was not the best wording. But I'm trying to get at a serious issue.

— NPR's Education Team (@npr_ed) July 2, 2014

If you'd like to continue the discussion I'm at @anya1anya

— NPR's Education Team (@npr_ed) July 2, 2014

The reporter apologized, said the tweet went out from the wrong account, and addressed critics of her “diversity” tweet:

@emmacarew @LuisClemens @mthomps I apologize. I acknowledge my error. And I take full responsibility for the sourcing issue.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

@emmacarew yes. definitely see your point there. the post did go out from the wrong account.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

@emmacarew I'm following you. My intention is to grow from this blunder into being an ally and part of the solution.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

So that ill-phrased @npr_ed tweet https://t.co/xQiV0ylyRn should have gone out on this account.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

Diversity of sources is something we all think about a lot. It's a real problem.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

Sometimes, it seems, majority voices are more eager to put themselves forward and respond to a media query.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

I acknowledge my responsibility for not cultivating a stronger, more diverse network of sources. I'm trying every day

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

And Twitter has been a great resource for that.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 2, 2014

@latinorebels @npr_ed hi. I regret it a lot. Was sharing momentary frustration at daily struggle to find diverse sources (1)

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 7, 2014

@latinorebels @npr_ed often majority voices are quicker to respond / self promote. (2)

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 7, 2014

@latinorebels @npr_ed I take full responsibility for cultivating diverse source network and believe my clips speak to that.

— Anya Kamenetz (@anya1anya) July 7, 2014

Twitchy apologizes to Ms. Kamenetz for omitting her follow-up tweets in the original post.

Editor’s note: The original headline of this post, “‘Disgusting bigots’: NPR reporter called out for ‘diversity’ gaffe,” has been changed to reflect the reporter’s apology.