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Find experts from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the media.

Fenaba Addo is an associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research looks at the causes and consequences of debt and wealth inequality in the contexts of higher education, family and relationships. Read more

Lesley Dupigny-Giroux is a professor of geography and geoscience at the University of Vermont. As a climatologist, she focuses on hydroclimatic natural hazards - climate hazards associated with the distribution of water, like floods or droughts - as well as other severe weather hazards. She can offer insight into climate literacy and climate change. Read more

Sharlene Newman is a cognitive neuroscientist and psychology professor at the University of Alabama. She uses magnetic resonance imaging to analyze human neurocognition. Read more

Tanisha Fazal is a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. She focuses on sovereignty, international law, and armed conflict. Her current research looks at the long-term cost of war and the effects of medical care improvements in conflict zones. Read more

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NPR Training + Diverse Sources DatabaseNPR Diverse Sources Database

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Find experts from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the media. Fenaba Addo is an associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research looks at the causes and consequences of debt and wealth inequality in the contexts of higher education, family and relationships.

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Race and Ethnicity Hub

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This hub offers fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity through free courses, articles, interactives and audio/visual materials.

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Finding Diverse Voices when Researching.

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Finding Diverse Voices when Researching.

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Grade 12

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Learner IV. B.2.

Learners gather information appropriate to the task by:

2. Collecting information representing diverse perspectives.

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The Women's Media Center's research and reports shed a light on the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of women in the media.

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Why is it important to have diverse perspectives represented in your resources when writing a research paper?

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APALA - Asian Pacific American Librarians Association

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APALA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing leadership opportunities through informed dialogue that addresses the needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander library workers and those who serve these communities.

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LGBTQI Voices

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Explore research on issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) people. Topics include gay marriage and civil unions, violence against queer and trans people, bullying, queer and trans youth homelessness, workplace issues, and more.

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This database is provided as a courtesy. Listings here are not endorsements or recommendations. Please report inappropriate behavior (harassment, plagiarism, nonpayment of invoices, microaggressions, spamming, etc) on the part of database members or users to contact at disabledwriters.com. While we can't physically stop you from harvesting email addresses to spam database members, please don't do that.

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Indigenous Studies Portal :: Indigenous Studies Portal

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iPortal is a full-text database of free & licensed articles, books etc for scholar, student & community focused primarily on Aboriginals & First Nations of Canada

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HAHR - Hispanic American Historical Review Online

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Latest Tweets

In light of Twitter's new anti-trans CEO, the DTA team has decided to leave this platform. Thanks for engaging with us here! You can still find us on Instagram and FB. #leavingtwitter

Happy Halloween! In celebration of our favorite holiday, enjoy these fliers and photos from Halloweens of years past, courtesy of Transas City, the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of San Francisco Public Library, and JD Doyle Archives.
Links here: https://linktr.ee/digitaltransarc

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Latest Tweets In light of Twitter's new anti-trans CEO, the DTA team has decided to leave this platform. Thanks for engaging with us here! You can still find us on Instagram and FB. #leavingtwitter Happy Halloween! In celebration of our favorite holiday, enjoy these fliers and photos from Halloweens of years past, courtesy of Transas City, the James C.

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Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities. ®

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities. ®

The Digital Commons Network brings together free, full-text scholarly articles from hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide. Curated by university librarians and their supporting institutions, the Network includes a growing collection of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, dissertations, working papers, conference proceedings, and other original scholarly work.

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Digital Commons Network | Free full-text scholarly articles

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Open access academic research from top universities

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JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.

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Lack of diversity in science journalism limits which stories get told, how they are told, and whose voices are heard. It affects public perceptions of the scientific enterprise, suggesting that science is for some more than others. And it perpetuates stereotypes, societal injustice, and distrust of both science and journalism among historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic people; LGBTQ+ people; women; people with disabilities; recent immigrants; scientists in the Global South; and other underrepresented minorities. While many newsrooms are discussing how to attract and retain more journalists from underrepresented communities, including a wider range of perspectives from sources is also an important step towards equity. Including diverse voices in science stories ensures more accurate and complete stories that more fully reflect and inform readers, and is the equitable thing to do.

Writing for The Open Notebook in 2016, science journalist Christina Selby offered a four-step program for science writers who want to include more diverse sources in their stories. That program called for reporters to recognize biases that inhibit them from including diverse voices, to track the diversity of their sources, to break out of old reporting patterns to cultivate new sources, and to broaden their definition of who is an expert. For some reporters, finding diverse sources may seem daunting, especially on a tight deadline. But no matter how much or how little time you have, prioritizing diversity in sourcing should be a core part of any journalist's working routine, as it already is for many science writers.

Here, we compile detailed and specific resources and strategies that reporters can use to make that goal a reality, drawing on the wealth of information available from many U.S.-based organizations and scientists. Strategies for finding diverse sources can include drawing on publicly available scientist databases, social media accounts and hashtags, affinity organizations in STEM, sources, colleagues, public information officers, expert-referral services, and online discussion groups. We also suggest ways for editors to support reporters' efforts to include more diverse sources, including by creating a newsroom culture that welcomes collaborative discussion about diversity (in sourcing and other respects), by setting and tracking goals, and by encouraging and concretely supporting reporters' sourcing efforts. (Download a print-friendly version of this resource page here.)

A Note about Asking Members of Marginalized Communities for Help

In working to cultivate a more diverse set of sources, it can be tempting to ask others for help in doing so, especially if they have successfully done so themselves. Be sensitive, though, to the fact that people from historically marginalized groups should not be expected to take on the emotional and time-consuming labor of helping other reporters solve the problem of lack of diversity in their sourcing. If it's possible to find needed information by doing your own research, it's best to do that. This work is not the responsibility of people who are members of historically marginalized communities. That's especially true when such efforts are unpaid.

Make the Search for Diverse Sources a Habit of Mind

As with any effort to defeat systemic racism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination, a first and necessary step in cultivating more diverse sources is to make doing so a priority and a habit of mind-not just when there's a crisis, but as a standard practice. That means setting aside time, even in the absence of a specific assignment, to learn about and become more familiar with a range of diverse experts in the fields you cover. You don't have to do everything at once; small actions accumulate, and the more often we take steps to engage with a diverse group of potential sources, the more easily it becomes a habit.

Search Diversity Databases

Many, many groups and individuals have created lists and databases of scientific experts that journalists can consult in their search for relevant sources. We share some of them below. (We welcome suggestions for others, especially if they are not already included in the "databases of databases" we link to below. To suggest additions, email us.)
Databases of Diverse Scientists in All Fields

500 Queer Scientists aims to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people in science. Its database of scientists is searchable by discipline and location.

The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science's Biography Project presents first-person stories by and about Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists.

Disabled Writers aims to increase representation of disabled people in media, and publishes a database that includes both disabled subject-matter experts and disabled writers.

The Women's Media Center's SheSource is an online database of women experts, searchable by keyword, area of expertise, language, and location.

500 Women Scientists is an organization dedicated to "the transformation of leadership, diversity, and public engagement in science." Among other projects, the group publishes a database of women scientists, searchable by keyword, location, and discipline. Users can also "favorite" experts for future reference.

People of Color Also Know Stuff includes a database of experts in various fields, including political science, psychology, and public health. The database includes information about experts' affiliations, research interests, and contact information.

Diverse Sources is a database of scientific experts from underrepresented communities. The database is searchable by keyword, and people who choose to be listed can include information such as their area of expertise, location and time zone, pronouns, and contact information. (Note that information about how experts self-identify is not included in this database.)

NPR's Source of the Week database is a curated collection of experts in many fields who are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic communities. Users can browse the directory alphabetically or by location or area of expertise. (Note that information about how experts self-identify is not included in this database.)

Editors of Color's Database of Diverse Databases includes field-specific databases of diverse experts in numerous scientific fields, including virology, chemistry, systems neuroscience, ecology and evolutionary biology, life sciences, physics, cell biology, engineering biology, microbiome research, material science, biochemistry, and more.

The Georgia Tech Diversity and Inclusion Project's Database of Databases was established to help conference organizers identify diverse STEM experts as possible speakers. It includes both general and field-specific databases of experts in numerous scientific fields, including ecology and evolution, plant sciences, microbiology, neuroscience, physics, astronomy, chemistry, data science, and more.

Additional Field-Specific Databases

Diversify Chemistry is a database of chemists who identify as members of underrepresented communities. The database includes information about people's branch of chemistry, institution, country, career stage, self-identification (with categories of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender), and contact information.

The LGBT+ Physicists Outlist is a directory of LGBTQ+ physicists and allies. The directory includes people's job position, institutional affiliation, location, and contact information.

The American Astronomical Society's Astronomy and Astrophysics Outlist is a directory of LGBTQ+ members of the astronomical community. The directory includes people's job position, institutional affiliation, location, and contact information.

The Society of Women Engineers hosts the following affinity groups on Facebook: African-American, Latinx, LGBTQ and allies, Asian Connections, Native American. Membership in the affinity groups is private, but admins are public.

The Women in Neuroscience Repository includes women graduate students, post-docs, and senior scientists in neuroscience. The database is searchable by keyword, and users can filter results to only include people from under-represented countries and/or to include only scientists in senior positions.

Women+ (Sourcelist) is a database of women and underrepresented genders in technology and technology policy.

The Women in Physics Speakers List, and the Minority Physicists Speakers List, both run by the American Physical Society, are searchable by keyword, location (state or country), and subfield.

Follow Diverse Scientists on Social Media

You're more likely to find diverse sources for any given story if you expose yourself, regularly, to the ideas and perspectives of scientists whose voices are underrepresented in science journalism. One way to do that is by making sure your reading diet includes books, journalism, essays, and other contributions from people who are members of marginalized communities. It's also helpful to follow a wide range of people on social media, to see what they're writing, what they're reading, who they're following, and so on. Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of Twitter accounts, lists, and hashtags that can help you find scientists relevant to the beats you cover:
Twitter Accounts
@500QueerSci | @500WomenSci | @AISES | @AAS_WGAD | @BlackandSTEM | @BlackAFinSTEM | @BlackWomenSTEM | @CientíficasMx | @CultureDish | @DisabledWriters | @GAIAIndigeneers | @HBCUSTEM | @InclusiveSci | @LatinasinSTEM | @LGBTscholars | @LGBTSTEM | @MinoritySTEM | @MinorityPostdoc | @NOBCChE | @NSTNSorg | @OUTinStem | @POCAlsoKnow | @PrideinSTEM | @RequestWSTEMM | @SACNAS | @SheSource | @VanguardSTEM | @WOCinSTEM | @WokeSTEM
Hashtags
#Academics4BlackLives | #AmplifyBlackSTEM | #BlackandSTEM | #BlackAFinSTEM | #BlackinAcademia | #BlackinAstro | #BlackintheIvory | #DisabledandSTEM | #DisabledinSTEM | #LatinxandSTEM | #LatinxinSTEM | #LGBTQSTEM | #MarginSci | #NativesinSTEM | #QueerinSTEM | #STEMDiversity | #STEMteenth | #WCWinSTEM | #WomenWhoCode | #WomeninScience | #WomeninSTEM | #WOCinSTEM

Finding Diverse Sources Using Twitter Lists

One way to find additional diverse scientists, including those most relevant to specific beats, is to search for lists created by well-connected journalists and/or scientists who are active on Twitter; just click on the "More" (three dots) icon on a user's Twitter profile, then click "View Lists."
Twitter Lists
Find Affinity Organizations in STEM

Reporters can also seek sources through scientific affinity organizations. (Note: Some regard it as part of their mission to help connect journalists with diverse sources; others may not regard doing so as part of their responsibility.) Here's a small sampling of the many that exist:

Ask for Help

There's no shame in asking other people to help you find suitable sources. (Remember that people from historically marginalized groups should not be expected to take on the responsibility of doing reporters' research for them.) People who science journalists can turn to for source recommendations can include:

Sources. Asking sources who else you should talk to is a standard interview technique. In doing so, it's a good idea to specifically seek out diverse sources-for example, by saying something like: "My publication makes it a practice to consistently include diverse sources in our stories, so that we can accurately capture the range of experts whose voices, perspectives, and expertise are relevant. Toward that end, can you recommend some additional experts I might talk with whose work is pertinent here and who are people of color or who are members of other historically marginalized communities?" Such a question can be a useful strategy even when interacting with sources who are not able to make time for an interview. (Additionally, when reporting on science that involves researchers in nations in the Global South, it's important to include those scientists as sources. If a U.S. institution has put out a press release about a study, it may not prominently include contact information for study co-authors outside the U.S., but U.S. sources should be able to help facilitate such connections.)

Colleagues. Other journalists may be able to suggest suitable experts from diverse communities. Remember, though, that relying on other reporters to find sources can perpetuate the problem of the same few minority voices being heard again and again.

Press officers. Public information officers at universities, scientific societies, funding agencies, and nonprofit organizations can help reporters find sources, and should be able to respond helpfully to requests for experts who are from underrepresented communities, when possible. As with any request to press officers, when making such requests it's helpful to be specific about what type of expertise you're seeking and on what timeline.

University-specific affinity groups. Many universities have institution-specific affinity groups, which are easily searchable. For example, searching for "University of Illinois physics affinity groups" yields this page.

Expert-referral services. Expert referral services can sometimes fulfill journalists' requests for diverse sources.

The National Science & Technology News Service (NSTNS) links journalists to Black scientists who have experience working with the media. Reporters can tweet queries to the group @NSTNSorg.

SciLine, a free service supported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, connects journalists with scientific experts. Sciline accepts requests for diverse sources and routinely seeks out sources from underrepresented groups.

Requesting diverse sources through other referral services, such as Newswise, HARO, and ProfNet, may also turn up good options.

Online discussion groups. If you belong to an online discussion group of journalists-whether it be a private Facebook or Slack group or a discussion group such as those hosted by the National Association of Science Writers or the Society of Environmental Journalists-you can ask other subscribers if they can recommend potential sources with particular expertise, and specify that you're seeking diverse sources.

Twitter. Asking for sourcing suggestions on Twitter can be helpful; again, be mindful not to expect that people from marginalized communities will do the work of finding your sources.

Find More TON Resources for Including Diverse Sources

More Reading

Journalism Affinity Associations

(Editors' Note: Thanks to Torie Bosch, Laura Helmuth, Jane Hu, Robin Lloyd, Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Kendall Powell, Kelly Tyrrell, Alexandra Witze, and Lauren Wolf for contributing feedback and ideas for this resource page. Any errors or omissions remain the responsibility of The Open Notebook.)
Last updated June 22, 2020

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Finding Diverse Sources for Science Stories - The Open Notebook

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Including diverse voices in science stories ensures more accurate and complete stories that more fully reflect and inform readers, and is the equitable thing to do. No matter how much or how little time you have, prioritizing diversity in sourcing should be a core part of any journalist's working routine.

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100+ Databases Featuring Talent From Underrepresented Groups

As we move toward a more equitable world, every industry is going to need new networks and resources to help them connect with talented people of color. In the spirit of this shared goal, Editors of Color is pleased to provide links to other databases of diverse talent.

If you know of an online database or directory that should be included here, please email *protected email*.

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As we move toward a more equitable world, every industry is going to need new networks and resources to help them connect with talented people of color. In the spirit of this shared goal, Editors of Color is pleased to provide links to other databases of diverse talent.

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Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. Search across a wide variety of disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions.

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Discover the world’s scientific knowledge | With 135+ million publications, 20+ million researchers, and 1+ million questions, this is where everyone can access science

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Say no to the manels and manterruptions. Here's your one-stop resource for experts in various areas in foreign policy. These are up-to-date as of October 2020. We'll update them regularly. Want to suggest some to a particular list? Holler at us.

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Diverse Sources | Science, Health and Environment experts available on deadline

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Search or join this database of experts to include more underrepresented voices and perspectives in your science, health and environment work.

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EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com

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EBSCO is the leading provider of research databases, e-journals, magazine subscriptions, ebooks and discovery service for academic libraries, public libraries, corporations, schools, government and medical institutions