The BDN Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom, and does not set policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com. In a state that is predominantly white, it can be hard to ensure that a diversity of perspectives is heard and respected. The recent creation of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations, is one recognition of that shortcoming — and the will to improve. The state, under the leadership of Gov.