The Media Council of Bermuda has announced a new guide for journalists in Bermuda reporting on race.The guide, entitled ‘Reporting on Race — A Guide for Media Professionals’, was funded by the Colorado-based Aspen Institute.The guide lists 11 guidelines for journalists, including that an individual’s race or nationality should not be mentioned in a prejudicial or pejorative way, and journalists should know and be accurate with facts about the Island’s racial history and racial inequities.Some of the guidelines were adapted from the National Union of Journalists’ Guidelines on Race Reporting from the UK and the Poynter Institute’s Guidelines for Racial Identification from the US.In addition to the guidelines, the document also contains a brief history section on the Island’s racial background.It was written by Meredith Ebbin, executive officer of the Media Council, and Raymond Codrington of the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change, and reviewed by a team of journalist and historians.A spokesperson for the Media Council said the guide was the result of a 2011 leadership seminar on race and the media, conducted by the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change and the Aspen-Bermuda Partnership on Racial Equity.“The Media Council and the Aspen Institute are confident that the guide will contribute to the conversation about race in Bermuda in a meaningful way,” the spokesperson said.“Copies will be circulated to all media organisations in Bermuda print, broadcast and online and will be posted on the Media Council website.“Like the Media Council’s code of practice it is a living document that will be regularly reviewed.”The Council also announced it is considering redirecting resources towards sponsoring courses and seminars for working journalists and those considering entering the field.