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| The Inequality Project: Grenfell encapsulated many of society's issues | The Inequality Project: Grenfell encapsulated many of society's issues |
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| One of the privileges of being a commissioning editor is seeing the kernel of an ambitious-but-uncertain idea take root, then flourish into a piece of journalism far more powerful than you had envisaged. So it was with the Guardian’s recent multimedia feature and Weekend cover story, The Tower Next Door: the story of Whitstable House in north Kensington, a council-run block of apartments located just a few hundred metres away from the blackened shell of Grenfell Tower. | One of the privileges of being a commissioning editor is seeing the kernel of an ambitious-but-uncertain idea take root, then flourish into a piece of journalism far more powerful than you had envisaged. So it was with the Guardian’s recent multimedia feature and Weekend cover story, The Tower Next Door: the story of Whitstable House in north Kensington, a council-run block of apartments located just a few hundred metres away from the blackened shell of Grenfell Tower. |
| The horrifying fire in London’s most expensive borough encapsulated many of the issues the Guardian’s Inequality Project, which I edit, has sought to explore since its launch in April – not just in Britain but all over the world. | The horrifying fire in London’s most expensive borough encapsulated many of the issues the Guardian’s Inequality Project, which I edit, has sought to explore since its launch in April – not just in Britain but all over the world. |
| The project, supported by the Ford Foundation, is an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of inequalities of all kinds by hearing directly from those who are affected most – from Indigenous activist Clinton Pryor, who walked across Australia to make his point, to Mysia Hamilton, a mother-of-five from Baltimore who works all hours to ensure her family avoids the “zero wealth future” facing an increasing number of black Americans. | The project, supported by the Ford Foundation, is an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of inequalities of all kinds by hearing directly from those who are affected most – from Indigenous activist Clinton Pryor, who walked across Australia to make his point, to Mysia Hamilton, a mother-of-five from Baltimore who works all hours to ensure her family avoids the “zero wealth future” facing an increasing number of black Americans. |
| In the case of Grenfell, with Guardian journalists working round the clock to cover the latest developments, our idea to deepen understanding was for the feature writer Simon Hattenstone to spend four months getting to know the residents of the tower closest to Grenfell. In part, we hoped this would help correct some of the distorted accounts about Grenfell’s residents that had emerged in the wake of the fire – while showcasing the proud community spirit on these two estates. | In the case of Grenfell, with Guardian journalists working round the clock to cover the latest developments, our idea to deepen understanding was for the feature writer Simon Hattenstone to spend four months getting to know the residents of the tower closest to Grenfell. In part, we hoped this would help correct some of the distorted accounts about Grenfell’s residents that had emerged in the wake of the fire – while showcasing the proud community spirit on these two estates. |
| But such a plan requires time and resources – which is what makes the support of the Ford Foundation so critical. The Inequality Project is the latest in a number of broad-ranging, editorially independent Guardian sections that receive foundation support – from Global Development to Guardian Cities. As editors, we greatly value these tie-ups with other organisations working in the public interest. Their understanding of the importance of communicating complex narratives allows us to aspire to deeper reporting – often by writers, photographers and film-makers who are new to the Guardian, reporting from locations we would otherwise struggle to cover. | But such a plan requires time and resources – which is what makes the support of the Ford Foundation so critical. The Inequality Project is the latest in a number of broad-ranging, editorially independent Guardian sections that receive foundation support – from Global Development to Guardian Cities. As editors, we greatly value these tie-ups with other organisations working in the public interest. Their understanding of the importance of communicating complex narratives allows us to aspire to deeper reporting – often by writers, photographers and film-makers who are new to the Guardian, reporting from locations we would otherwise struggle to cover. |
| Of course, the Grenfell story also depended on the extraordinary trust placed in us by the residents of the Silchester estate, beginning with Piers Thompson, the founder of the Save Our Silchester campaign. You can read Simon’s story and watch Alex Healey’s films in one stunning package here. As one reader tweeted afterwards: “Take your time and read this absolutely heartbreaking piece of journalism from the Guardian. Watch the videos. Look at the visuals.” | Of course, the Grenfell story also depended on the extraordinary trust placed in us by the residents of the Silchester estate, beginning with Piers Thompson, the founder of the Save Our Silchester campaign. You can read Simon’s story and watch Alex Healey’s films in one stunning package here. As one reader tweeted afterwards: “Take your time and read this absolutely heartbreaking piece of journalism from the Guardian. Watch the videos. Look at the visuals.” |
| Raw and revealing accounts | Raw and revealing accounts |
| From the outset, the Inequality Project has counted on raw, revealing accounts from Guardian readers of all backgrounds – even top 1% earners – to shed light on the inequalities people wrestle with every day. | From the outset, the Inequality Project has counted on raw, revealing accounts from Guardian readers of all backgrounds – even top 1% earners – to shed light on the inequalities people wrestle with every day. |
| For our recently published Disability Diaries, we asked seven readers with disabilities to record every instance of discrimination (human, infrastructural, organisational) they encountered throughout September. The resulting diary entries were devastatingly honest, and often very funny. | For our recently published Disability Diaries, we asked seven readers with disabilities to record every instance of discrimination (human, infrastructural, organisational) they encountered throughout September. The resulting diary entries were devastatingly honest, and often very funny. |
| As Sasha Saben Callaghan, who lives in Edinburgh and has a visual impairment and very limited mobility, noted after one encounter: “The woman who gave me this helpful advice today probably thought she was being kind. My mouth said ‘thanks’ but my brain said, ‘Oh, just bugger off.’” | As Sasha Saben Callaghan, who lives in Edinburgh and has a visual impairment and very limited mobility, noted after one encounter: “The woman who gave me this helpful advice today probably thought she was being kind. My mouth said ‘thanks’ but my brain said, ‘Oh, just bugger off.’” |
| Pete Langman, of Brighton, was equally upfront in his account: “I’m out for dinner and, as we approach the restaurant, I see a look in the doorman’s eye: ‘Are you all right, sir?’ What he means, of course, is: ‘Are you drunk or on drugs, sir?’ So I say: ‘No, I have Parkinson’s and that’s an end to the matter.” | Pete Langman, of Brighton, was equally upfront in his account: “I’m out for dinner and, as we approach the restaurant, I see a look in the doorman’s eye: ‘Are you all right, sir?’ What he means, of course, is: ‘Are you drunk or on drugs, sir?’ So I say: ‘No, I have Parkinson’s and that’s an end to the matter.” |
| The Inequality Project’s global perspective was underlined by our recent investigation into why women walk fewer steps in public than men. Talia Shadwell’s report prompted a heartfelt response from female readers all over the world, who told us about the frustration and fear they endure – mostly in silence – because of their experiences of harassment. | The Inequality Project’s global perspective was underlined by our recent investigation into why women walk fewer steps in public than men. Talia Shadwell’s report prompted a heartfelt response from female readers all over the world, who told us about the frustration and fear they endure – mostly in silence – because of their experiences of harassment. |
| From Ontario, Canada: “I have always felt anxious while walking alone. I would love to be able to shake this fear that the night is not safe for me. It feels irrational because most of the time everything is fine. The problem is, everything is fine until it’s not.” | From Ontario, Canada: “I have always felt anxious while walking alone. I would love to be able to shake this fear that the night is not safe for me. It feels irrational because most of the time everything is fine. The problem is, everything is fine until it’s not.” |
| And from Cairo, Egypt: “Harassment is a normal occurrence for the majority of women here. That has unfortunately kept me from walking in the streets; instead I use my car or a taxi. I got a bicycle in the hope it would be better than being on foot – but the harassment was actually worse.” | And from Cairo, Egypt: “Harassment is a normal occurrence for the majority of women here. That has unfortunately kept me from walking in the streets; instead I use my car or a taxi. I got a bicycle in the hope it would be better than being on foot – but the harassment was actually worse.” |
| Poignantly, one correspondent noted at the end of her description of a lifetime of harassment: “Wow, reading this is slightly painful – it’s the first time I’ve put all these accounts together. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it.” | Poignantly, one correspondent noted at the end of her description of a lifetime of harassment: “Wow, reading this is slightly painful – it’s the first time I’ve put all these accounts together. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it.” |
| It is us, of course, who are grateful to all those who have contributed to the Inequality Project. If you have experiences you wish to share, or suggestions for other issues we should tackle, please email us at inequality.project@theguardian.com. | It is us, of course, who are grateful to all those who have contributed to the Inequality Project. If you have experiences you wish to share, or suggestions for other issues we should tackle, please email us at inequality.project@theguardian.com. |
| Follow the Inequality Project on Twitter here | Follow the Inequality Project on Twitter here |
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