How can you encourage critical thinking in your diverse journalism team?

1 Encourage curiosity

One of the first steps to developing critical thinking is to be curious and open-minded about the world and the stories you cover. You can encourage curiosity in your team by asking questions, seeking feedback, and exploring multiple angles and viewpoints. You can also create opportunities for your team to learn new skills, tools, and topics, and to share their insights and experiences with each other.

2 Challenge assumptions

Another key aspect of critical thinking is to challenge your own and others' assumptions, biases, and preconceptions. You can do this by exposing your team to diverse sources, perspectives, and contexts, and by asking them to reflect on how they affect their reporting and storytelling. You can also invite constructive criticism and debate, and encourage your team to test their hypotheses and claims with evidence and logic.

3 Support verification

Verifying information is essential for journalistic credibility and integrity, and it requires critical thinking skills to assess the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of sources, data, and facts. You can support verification in your team by providing them with the necessary resources, tools, and guidelines, and by modeling good practices and habits. You can also encourage your team to collaborate and cross-check their information with each other and with external experts.

4 Promote diversity

Diversity is not only a matter of representation, but also of enriching your journalism with different voices, stories, and perspectives. You can promote diversity in your team by hiring and retaining journalists from various backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and by creating an inclusive and respectful work environment. You can also encourage your team to seek out and engage with diverse sources, audiences, and partners, and to be sensitive and accountable to their needs and expectations.

5 Reward creativity

Creativity is a valuable skill for journalists, as it helps them to find original and compelling ways to tell stories, to solve problems, and to innovate. You can reward creativity in your team by recognizing and celebrating their achievements, by giving them autonomy and flexibility, and by providing them with feedback and support. You can also encourage your team to experiment with new formats, platforms, and genres, and to learn from their failures and successes.

6 Foster reflection

Reflection is a crucial skill for journalists, as it helps them to evaluate their own and others' work, to learn from their experiences, and to improve their performance. You can foster reflection in your team by creating a culture of feedback and learning, by setting clear and realistic goals and expectations, and by providing them with opportunities and time to reflect. You can also encourage your team to document and share their reflections, and to seek mentorship and guidance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?