Nana aba Duncan

When visibility becomes voice, and voice becomes change

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Nana aba Duncan

Request Nana aba

Nana aba Duncan is a journalism scholar, broadcaster and builder of Black-led research spaces whose work is changing how Canadian institutions see, hear and serve Black people. She is the inaugural Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies at Carleton University and the director of the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism & Belonging, a Black-led, Black-serving hub named for one of Canada’s earliest Black newspaper publishers. In that role, she leads national projects on how Black communities are reported on, how Black journalists are treated at work, and how organizations can move from one-month visibility to year-round belonging.

Before entering academia, Nana aba spent 15 years at CBC Radio, including as host of Fresh Air, Ontario’s top-rated weekend morning show, and as a producer on national programs. That broadcast experience shows up in her speaking: she is audience-forward, warm and precise, and she knows how to turn complex research into stories people remember. She also co-founded Media Girlfriends, the podcast and production company led by women and journalists of colour that has created award-winning audio rooted in equity and representation.

Her current research sits in two places at once: inside newsrooms and inside Black communities. On one side, Black journalists across Canada told her team about high rates of discrimination, often from people in power, about reporting problems that went nowhere, and about the visible stall of post-2020 promises. On the other side, Black news consumers and community members described something strikingly similar: media attention that comes in spikes (after crisis or in February), not in sustained, joyful, ordinary coverage; and institutional gestures that don’t last. Bringing those two streams together, Nana aba shows that Black people inside institutions and Black people outside of them are telling us the same story about trust and follow-through, and that other sectors can learn from it.

From Seasonal to Sustained Visibility: What Black Journalists and Black Audiences Told Us and How Institutions Can Earn Trust

From Seasonal to Sustained Visibility: What Black Journalists and Black Audiences Told Us and How Institutions Can Earn Trust

Black journalists told us they experienced discrimination, often from people in power and frequently as jokes and comments. When they reported it, “nothing happened.” Black news consumers said they mostly see Black people in the news during crisis or in February, not in ordinary, joyful life. They say those portrayals impact them in their daily lives, including when they seek healthcare. Whether it’s inside the newsroom or outside it, Black people are perceiving negative patterns that exclude the nuance and depths of their lives and humanity.

This keynote draws upon Nana aba’s experience, expertise and research findings in the journalism sector to urge those in the health sector to move beyond superficial or temporary diversity efforts. It emphasizes the critical importance of continuous engagement, authentic listening to Black voices, and embedding genuine equity into institutional practices. Ultimately, it would serve as a call to action for institutions to foster inclusive environments that prioritize the long-term well-being and equitable treatment of their Black members.

Takeaways:
• Increase Black representation in leadership and decision-making positions in healthcare.
• You have to do the work. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives must be continuous, not limited to specific times.
• Actively listen to and consult with Black employees and stakeholders; value their insights.
• Demonstrate accountability through transparent actions and reporting on DEI commitments.
• Recognize and address systemic biases affecting service delivery and interactions .
• Provide comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all staff to improve cultural understanding.
• Understand how institutional policies and investments impact the health, well-being and quality of life for Black members.

From Seasonal to Sustained Visibility: What Black Journalists and Black Audiences Told Us and How Institutions Can Earn Trust

Black journalists told us they experienced discrimination, often from people in power and frequently as jokes and comments. When they reported it, “nothing happened.” Black news consumers said they mostly see Black people in the news during crisis or in February, not in ordinary, joyful life. They say those portrayals impact them in their daily lives, including when they seek healthcare. Whether it’s inside the newsroom or outside it, Black people are perceiving negative patterns that exclude the nuance and depths of their lives and humanity.

This keynote draws upon Nana aba’s experience, expertise and research findings in the journalism sector to urge those in the health sector to move beyond superficial or temporary diversity efforts. It emphasizes the critical importance of continuous engagement, authentic listening to Black voices, and embedding genuine equity into institutional practices. Ultimately, it would serve as a call to action for institutions to foster inclusive environments that prioritize the long-term well-being and equitable treatment of their Black members.

Takeaways:
• Increase Black representation in leadership and decision-making positions in healthcare.
• You have to do the work. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives must be continuous, not limited to specific times.
• Actively listen to and consult with Black employees and stakeholders; value their insights.
• Demonstrate accountability through transparent actions and reporting on DEI commitments.
• Recognize and address systemic biases affecting service delivery and interactions .
• Provide comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all staff to improve cultural understanding.
• Understand how institutional policies and investments impact the health, well-being and quality of life for Black members.