University Alliance pledges academic diversity in media

Technical and professional universities launch campaign to boost underrepresented academics used in media

Members of the University Alliance group of technical and professional universities have pledged to double the number of their academics taking part in media opportunities in the next three years in a bid to improve the diversity of people quoted by the press.

UA said its universities will offer support to more academics from diverse backgrounds and encourage them to work with the media, via free media training and peer-to-peer mentoring. As part of the campaign, launched 27 April, UA will create a bank of experts that journalists can use when they are looking for an academic to comment, and universities will profile UA experts to the media—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.