April 2007

Minority percentages decline at daily newspapers

The percentage of minority journalists working in America’s daily newsrooms declined slightly to 13.62 percent this year, according to the American Society of Newspaper Editors annual newsroom census.

This year ASNE counted full-time journalists working online for the first time to reflect the industry emphasis on expanding its Web presence.

Including online-only journalists helped the minority numbers. This year’s annual census found nearly 2,000 full-time journalists working only on their newspapers ’ Web sites. Of those, nearly 16 percent are minorities.

“The good news in the online operations doesn’t outweigh the bad news in these numbers,” said Dave Zeeck, ASNE president.

“And the fact that the only two years diversity numbers have gone down were also the two toughest economic years for newspapers in recent memory only means we need to redouble our efforts.

“We have to remember that diversity isn’t just about numbers, it’s about making our news reports better. Diverse staffs lead to better journalism.”

Source American Society of Newspaper Editors,
Read the full report at www.asne.org

 

“The drop in the percentage of minorities in newsrooms is very disappointing when you realize how the demographics of so many local communities — and of the nation — are changing so dramatically,” said ASNE Diversity Committee chair Phil Currie. Here are the details:

• Nearly 57,000 full-time journalists now work in daily newsrooms. The number of minority journalists increased by about 200 to nearly 7,800.

• Although the number of minorities increased, their percentage decreased from 13.87 percent. This is the second time since ASNE started the annual survey in 1978 that the percentage of minorities has declined. The first decline occurred in 2001.

• The census also found about 115 full-time journalists working on Web sites whose staffs are totally separate from their print newsroom.