You're invited to a special event – help us make the media better

In a few hours, we're hosting a vital webinar discussing the crisis of equality in media and journalism. Join us, and be a champion of diversity. Book now!

Jun 15, 2025

A title card showing an image of webinar panellist Shirish Kulkarni and a quote from him that says we are at a critical turning point for diversity in the media

The last few months have seen curbs on diversity, inclusion, and equity in the United States, affecting multiple areas of the media, education, and reporting. In the UK, you are twice as likely to find privately educated white men in journalism than anyone else, and our media is increasingly concentrated in the hands of billionaires and oligarchs. Meanwhile, some social media channels are rife with misogyny, racism, homophobia and anti-trans abuse. But does it have to be that way?

How can we create a world where the stories we tell, watch, hear and share celebrate the diversity of our communities?

This Bylines Network webinar will connect you to experts in inclusion in media and journalism. You will hear unique perspectives from the UK and beyond, and you can join in the conversation as we work together to make our media fairer, better and more diverse.

Quote from Diane Kemp, a speaker at the webinar describing how excited she is to join other panellists and that she believes we urgently need to defend diversity and equality from attack

Webinar, Monday 16 June, 6pm - book now!

This 90-minute session will include keynote reflections, ideas and calls to action from our panellists, followed by a panel discussion about the best ways forward, and an open discussion involving all webinar attendees.

Panelists

Diane Kemp
Director of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity and Professor of Broadcast Journalism at Birmingham City University.
Finbarr Toesland (host and chair)
Award-winning investigative journalist committed to illuminating vital human rights stories and underreported issues. Author of research into the experiences of harassment and abuse of LGBTQ, which has been discussed in The Guardian, Press Gazette, PinkNews and Gay Times and the House of Commons.
Jennie Kermode
Writer specialising in LGBTQ issues and film, a regular contributor to Bylines Scotland, her most recent book is ‘Growing Older as a Trans and/or Non-Binary Person’.
Mike Findlay-Agnew
CEO International Network of Street Papers (tackling poverty through journalism), LGBTQ+ Awareness EDI trainer and freelance writer on equalities.
Shirish Kulkarni
Journalist, researcher and community organiser. Currently, News Innovation Research Fellow at Media Cymru/Cardiff University School of Journalism and founder of Inclusive Journalism Cymru.