Sydney Morning Herald and The Age re-advertise for critics after two resign over diversity concerns
Nine has re-opened applications for two freelance book critic roles after Bec Kavanagh and Jack Callil tendered their resignations to allow space for non-white writers.
Last month, Kavanagh and Callil were two of five white writers selected as critics for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as part of a program funded by the Copyright Agency and Judith Nielsen Institute. But, in a joint statement, the pair said they sent a resignation letter to their editors “in opposition to the lack of diversity in the selection”.
“We are thankful for the work done by non-white writers who have articulated the problems with this selection far better than us,” they said.
“Our resignation is not due to any pressure on us from these writers or the community, who have been incredibly supportive of our individual writing, but because we stand with them and support their call for change.
“We are complicit in the problem. We advocate publicly for diversity, but it was taken us too long to act upon these ideas. Privilege allows us to take the time to talk to each other, and to learn, but it also demands that we do what we can to effect meaningful change.”
Hi friends. I am resigning, with @Jack_Callil, as an emerging book critic for @theage/@smh, an initiative generously funded by @CopyrightAgency and @JN_Institute. The selection of all-white critics fails to reflect Australia's cultural diversity. Full statement below. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/XoPxAD7tKp
— bec kavanagh (@beckavanagh) June 22, 2020
In the context of a renewed focus on the Black Lives Matter movement, racism in media, and a lack of diversity in newsrooms, the line up was met with criticism at the time of its announcement.
In response to the resignations, the newspapers said they will consider previous applicants, in addition to new ones, to replace Kavanagh and Callil, who finish up at the end of July.
Genuinely sad outcome. @beckavanagh and Jack are both talented and deserving critics – as are the myriad talented overlooked critics from minority backgrounds.
Commission Beck. Commission Jack. Commission the wealth of diverse arts critics with whom they stand in solidarity. https://t.co/77EQuiH7Dm
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) June 22, 2020
“We accept the reasons why Jack Callil and Bec Kavanagh have decided to resign,” The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s life editor, Monique Farmer, said.
“We are re-opening applications for the two freelance book critic roles, considering the previous applicants as well as seeking to ensure the roles are posted more widely to encourage a greater diversity of applicants. The successful applicants will need to have expertise as literary critics and strong writing skills.”
Matthew Burgess, culture editor at the Herald and The Age, previously said the Nine papers had been “inundated” with applications.
Writer Omar Sakr tweeted that the responsibility now lies with the newspapers: “This ought to make you reflect on your processes, and not just reflect, but proactively change to ensure this outcome is not replicated again.”
All eyes are on you now @theage / @smh. This ought to make you reflect on your processes, and not just reflect, but proactively change to ensure this outcome is not replicated again. https://t.co/HCYfRirB5B
— Omar Sakr (@OmarjSakr) June 22, 2020
In addition to Kavanagh and Callil, Chloe Wolifson and Tiarney Miekus were appointed to review visual arts, and Cassie Tongue was chosen as a theatre critic. At the time of the hires, Adam Suckling, the chief executive of the Copyright Agency, said the five critics would act as “important new voices to the landscape of arts criticism and review in Australia”.
Things people need to learn to say:
“I’m sorry, I’m not qualified to speak on that”
“Thank you for the offer/opportunity, but no I won’t be part of an all white committee/panel/executive”.
This can’t have been comfortable, but it’s a solid step by Jack & Beck & I respect it. https://t.co/EsATwwyKdb
— Amy Thunig (@AmyThunig) June 22, 2020
Burgess added at the time: “It is an exciting opportunity for our readers to gain fresh perspectives in visual arts, stage and book criticism, and for the critics to work on developing their voice and reach.”
Political correctness at its finest!
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What if the best candidates for the job are all white?
Are SMH/The Age expected to illegally discriminate against against any white skinned candidates who apply for and are good candidates for this job?
Quote from fairwork.gov.au:
“Unlawful workplace discrimination occurs when an employer takes adverse action against a person who is an employee or prospective employee because of the following attributes of the person:
race
colour
sex
sexual orientation
age
physical or mental disability
marital status
family or carer’s responsibilities
pregnancy
religion
political opinion
national extraction or social origin”
Does this not apply if the candidate is a white Australian? This is a tough spot for the Fairfax crew. If their best candidate is white and they don’t hire them – they break the law. If they do hire them they will be lynched by the woke social justice warriors.
We need to be fighting for equal opportunity – not equal outcome.
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Two questions for the Mumbrella cohort….
1) If these five people were genuinely the top five candidates, and got the jobs on merit, should they have been given these roles or should the SMH/Age have self imposed a quota system to given these roles to a non-white person who wasn’t quite up to standard?
2) do you genuinely think that the SMH/Age purposely chose an all white group and deliberately downgraded and neglected to choose other candidates because they were not white?
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Well, this pair must be confident of getting other jobs – rather them than I.
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It’s called unconscious bias…Educate yourself.
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The ignorance of shouting ‘unconscious bias’ every time there is a rational, logical and legal point of view, is quote frankly obscene and overcooked. It’s time to grow up people, stop feeding this absolute mindless frenzy!
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