Tough questions for Chicago's mayor

Dear Mayor Lightfoot, Why now? I pose this question to you as a journalist who happens to be a minority. As creator of "Media Essential Workers," a program dedicated to telling the story of the storytellers, your answer matters. Our program focuses on issues from newsroom diversity to news crew safety. I fight for diversity and equity in the industry, but I wonder if you are sincere. Why now, and why this way?

As a journalist, I ask tough questions, so here goes: Journalists at Univision Chicago receive lower pay than English-language counterparts. Their union has held informational pickets. Why have you remained silent?

Prior to Alden taking over the Chicago Tribune, the publisher shuttered Hoy newspaper, which provided a voice to Chicago's Hispanic community. As you stated, "local media should reflect multiple cultures which comprise it." Where was your voice then, six months after your election? Now, as all at the Tribune and its suburban papers work under uncertain circumstances, your influence could boost an expectation of coverage that this city deserves. Minority journalistic empowerment comes from making sure opportunities remain at outlets where they can report.

Mayor, it is the job of journalists to hold power accountable, that includes in our own ranks and in our own newsrooms. Journalistic organizations and unions are making concerted efforts to add to diversity of perspective and personnel in local newsrooms. There are meaningful ways to fight the status quo, urging media owners to do right by their journalists and demanding community-based quality reporting. If your concern runs deeper, have discussions with newsrooms, but don't censor/prioritize who can ask the questions.

In fairness, I also ask news managers in Chicago this question: Analyzing the city hall press corps, is the mayor right? And if you are finally talking about it, Why now? More importantly what's your next step?

Raza Siddiqui

Lisle