The newly created role – part of the Guardian’s Race Action Plan – will focus on further improving the diversity of both the Guardian’s editorial staff and its coverage. As part of his role, say the publishers, Joseph will also proactively drive the Guardian’s diversity and inclusion strategy within its editorial department, working with the newsroom to ensure it is following the initiatives set out in the Guardian’s diversity action plans, as well as with external stakeholders and providing input on staff training.
Joseph is currently deputy editor and columnist for the Guardian’s opinion section, and a former managing editor of the features department. He was involved in the creation of the Guardian’s diversity and inclusion strategy for editorial and has run the Positive Action Scheme supporting aspiring and diverse new journalists. Joseph also helped devise the Guardian’s first Black History Month timeline posters in 2008, which were refreshed as a wallchart series in 2020 to highlight the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. Before joining the Guardian in 1992, Joseph was editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper Black Briton, and an assistant editor at The Voice.
Joseph Harker said: “The Guardian has made huge strides on diversity in the last few years, but no one would disagree that there's a lot more to do. The new role will allow us to make significant progress in attracting and representing new voices – covering Britain and the world through the eyes of people with a wide variety of perspectives and life experiences. My goal is to make everyday inclusion a reality – and in so doing make the Guardian even more informative and outward looking, and an even better publication for all our audience.”
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media said: “Joseph is an editor with excellent judgement and deep experience of these issues in the news industry over many years. I'm delighted he will take on this important new role at the Guardian, ensuring we continue to move forward with our diversity action plans and reflect the communities we serve.”
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