Diversity Statement

Diversity is a core value of public radio station KLCC and its licensee, Lane Community College (LCC). This commitment is embodied in a variety of ways:

• Welcome, value and promote diversity among staff, students and our community.
• Cultivate a respectful, inclusive and accessible working and learning environment.
• Work effectively in different cultural contexts to serve the educational and linguistic needs of a diverse community.
• Develop capacity to understand issues of difference, power, and privilege.

Lane Community College and KLCC also have a Diversity Strategic Direction: “A Diverse and Inclusive Learning and Working Environment”:

• Develop institutional capacity to respond effectively and respectfully to students, staff, and community members of all cultures, languages, classes, races, genders, ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and abilities. 

Lane Community College’s Diversity Plan ensures the implementation of its Diversity Core Value and Strategic Direction as well as outlines specific action items for KLCC. Such diversity efforts are guided by a social justice framework, so that issues of privilege, oppression and discrimination within institutional policies, practices, and procedures are recognized and addressed.  

Other essential components of Lane’s and KLCC’s vision of diversity are that 1) diversity should be everyone’s responsibility, 2) diversity should be inclusive in nature, not exclusive, and 3)  all staff  should have the capacity to create media and work environments that are safe and respectful. 

In other words, diversity is not simply a mirroring of demographics of the local population. Diversity is about becoming a higher performing organization, which produces outcomes that serve the needs of a diverse population.   Welcoming and respecting students and employees with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, approaches, skill-sets, and understandings will enhance KLCC and LCC’s capacity to address needs of our increasingly diverse community and workforce.

KLCC knows that a diverse workforce, management team, and governing body contribute greatly to our knowledge and understanding of Eugene-Springfield, Oregon’s diverse communities, and our ability to deliver content and services that will help us attract, grow and engage audiences and help them to achieve their full potential.  We endeavor to recruit from a broad pool of candidates enabling us to hire and promote qualified candidates from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, personal experiences and characteristics, and talents that reasonably reflect the diverse needs and interests of the communities served by KLCC.

KLCC will also undertake the following initiatives:

• Include diverse individuals in internships or work-study for professional level experience.
• Implement diversity professional development for KLCC’s governing body, Lane Community College’s Board of Education.
• Implement formal diversity professional development programs for staff.
• Minimize barriers and proactively recruit applicants from diverse communities.
• Intentional inclusion of diverse voices within its programs and services.

Finally, KLCC will continue to explore new opportunities for achieving and promoting diversity and monitor and evaluate our success.  KLCC will always meet the standards of federal and state law, meet applicable FCC guidelines (47 C.F.R. 73.2080), Lane Community College’s Equal Employment Policy, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Diversity Eligibility Criteria.

KLCC continues to make progress in representation of diverse communities and received recognition from such organizations as the Native American Journalists Association for its coverage. KLCC staff also provided expertise mentoring aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds through involvement in industry organizations such as the Next Generation Project. Additional support for underrepresented communities is provided through sponsorship of community cultural activities and inclusion of event announcements in public service announcements and via The Shortcut calendar listings.

[Statement updated March 13, 2024]