BEA2026

In journalism education, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts once signaled progress — a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, confronting bias, and broadening the lens of storytelling. So, what went wrong?

Critics charge that DEI initiatives in higher ed have overreached — stifling down-to-earth conversation with language-policing, "woke indoctrination," and fear of saying the wrong thing. When everything can be labeled a microaggression, are we still fostering dialogue — or just managing landmines? And where does viewpoint diversity fit in a space that claims to be inclusive but often feels ideologically narrow?

While some institutions are rebranding their diversity efforts, others are abandoning them altogether in the face of rising opposition. We’ll examine the pitfalls of diversity training done badly, where good intentions meet poor execution, and offer concrete strategies for doing better in ways that avoid playing into the hands of DEI opponents.
Moderator: Suzanne Lysak, Chapman University
Panelists: Elliott Lewis , Syracuse University
Cheryl L. Gardner, California State University, Fresno 
Jennifer Woodard, Middle Tennessee State University