The latest study from the Radio-Television News Directors Association and Ball State University shows that minorities make up a greater percentage of the US population than ever, but the percentage working in broadcast news seems to be going in the other direction. Minorities in 2007 comprised 34.5% of all US citizens, but made up only 21.5% of the televisions news workforce, down from 22.2% in 2006; and only 6.2% of the radio news workforce, down from 6.4% in 2006. African-American participation in both media increased year-to-year, but Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans all experienced losses (see chart). Taking a longer range view back to 1995, Hispanics have doubled their presence on the television side, 4.2% to 8.2%, but have almost disappeared on the radio side, dropping from 7.5% to 0.7%. Overall, Caucasian newsers on TV have dropped from 82.9% of the total workforce to 78.5%, leaving more room for minority staffers. On the radio side, the trend has been the opposite, with Caucasians growing from 85.3% to 93.8%. Changes in the Hispanic news staff seemed to be the primary fuel for the overall changes in both media.
Broadcast News Workforce
|
Television
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2000
|
1995
|
|
Caucasian
|
78.50%
|
77.80%
|
78.80%
|
79.00%
|
82.90%
|
|
African American
|
10.10%
|
9.50%
|
10.30%
|
11.00%
|
10.10%
|
|
Hispanic
|
8.70%
|
9.60%
|
8.70%
|
7.00%
|
4.20%
|
|
Asian American
|
2.30%
|
2.70%
|
1.90%
|
3.00%
|
2.20%
|
|
Native American
|
0.40%
|
0.50%
|
0.30%
|
<1.0%
|
0.60%
|
|
Radio
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2000
|
1995
|
|
Caucasian
|
93.80%
|
93.60%
|
92.10%
|
90.00%
|
85.30%
|
|
African American
|
3.30%
|
2.50%
|
0.70%
|
5.00%
|
5.70%
|
|
Hispanic
|
0.70%
|
1.90%
|
6.00%
|
3.00%
|
7.50%
|
|
Asian American
|
1.10%
|
1.80%
|
0.70%
|
1.00%
|
0.60%
|
|
Native American
|
1.10%
|
0.20%
|
0.50%
|
1.00%
|
1.00%
|
Source: Radio-Television News Directors Association and Ball State University
