WAER Community Representation Statement

Syracuse University (“Syracuse”) and WAER are committed to a culture grounded in diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility. WAER strives both to ensure its workforce, governing boards, and programming are reflective of the diversity found in the community it serves, and to create and foster a supportive and accepting environment for all employees, students, and listeners.
 

To that end, Syracuse and WAER have implemented policies and procedures designed to help ensure their diversity and inclusion goals are met as follows:
 

WAER management and Syracuse biannually review the station’s community representation goals and any revisions thereto. Management and Syracuse also review practices and policies as part of their good faith effort to fulfil the station’s commitment to community representation and compliance with the Federal Communications Commission’s Equal Employment Opportunity rules and regulations.
 

WAER and Syracuse have established policies and practices designed to facilitate broad recruitment of board members and station management. WAER and Syracuse strive to build and nurture a management and employee group that is representative of the service community’s diversity in age, ethnicity, family/marital status, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics of those in the community. WAER and Syracuse also support its diverse employment population by subjecting to appropriate disciplinary action any employees found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior.
 

Syracuse has established several committees dedicated toward diversity, equity and inclusion, which regularly advise Syracuse and WAER on efforts to ensure that the station is a welcoming space for individuals of all backgrounds. The committees also provide recommendations on recruitment of diverse employees, management, and community volunteers. Additionally, Syracuse regularly hosts monthly speaker series and annual events focused on highlighting diverse voices and increasing diversity in the broadcasting space.
 

Further, as an NPR member station, WAER observes the standards of journalistic ethics as set forth in NPR’s ethics handbook. One of the key tenets articulated therein is ensuring “the active pursuit of a diversity of voices, especially those most at risk of being left out.” WAER facilitates achievement of this goal both by employing a diverse group of individuals and through regular interaction with its community members to understand their perspectives and concerns. This allows WAER to tell stories of underserved populations and broaden its listeners’ perspectives on local, national, and global issues.
 

Syracuse and WAER regularly host employee educational training sessions on diversity and inclusion. This is conducted in part through the regular speaker and annual events conducted above, but also through courses and meetings with local community organizations whose aims are to serve the needs of marginalized groups.