Survey Shows Blacks Continue To Decline in TV News Nationwide; NABJ Concerned About Trend

Survey Shows Blacks Continue To Decline in TV News Nationwide; NABJ Concerned About Trend

WASHINGTON, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Black Journalists is troubled about the latest national survey results showing that the percentage of blacks in local television news continues to decline.

The 2006 Radio and Television News Directors/Ball State University report also showed blacks increased slightly in radio news, although the overall representation on minorities in radio newsrooms plummeted by more than 8 percent in the past decade.

Overall, the survey showed an increase in minority journalists in TV newsrooms, with journalists of color representing 22.2 percent of the TV news workforce, up a full percent from 2005. The growth came almost entirely from an increase in Hispanics and Asian Americans. Those increases more than offset a 0.8 percent drop in African Americans. Minorities account for 33.6 percent of the U.S. population.

"While we would hope to see an increase across the board among all underrepresented groups, clearly the numbers show that's not the case," said NABJ President Bryan Monroe. "As stations seek to diversify their news staffs, such progress should not come at the expense of African Americans. Fair and accurate coverage of African American communities must remain a priority."

"The question is, what will the radio and broadcast industries do with these numbers," said Barbara Ciara, NABJ's Vice President for Broadcast and anchor/managing editor at WTKR-TV in Norfolk. "I hope this survey is not an indication that the broadcast industry is just trading one race off for another instead of making a true effort to really diversify our nations newsrooms."

There was growth in the number of African American television news directors. Blacks were the largest group of minority news directors at non- Hispanic TV stations at 4.2 percent.

An area of great concern is the lack of growth among black general managers, said Ciara. The survey showed that 93 percent of general managers of TV stations were white, and four out of five were men - virtually unchanged in the past year.

"If there is no improvement in diversity among the people in charge of overseeing hiring practices," said Ciara, "it makes sense that we resemble a rocking chair - lots of movement yet never moving forward."

This topic and others will be featured at the National Association of Black Journalists 31st Annual Convention and Career Fair August 16-20 at the Indiana Convention Center. The convention is expected to attract more than 3,000 attendees nationwide. It is the largest professional gathering devoted to black journalists in the nation. In addition to a discussion with Ball State University's Bob Papper and other journalists about the RTNDA survey, other convention sessions will look at black entrepreneurship and the current state of network news, featuring executives from the major television networks.

The convention will also feature the nation's largest journalism career fair along with specialized workshops, plenary session with other national figures, professional development breakfasts targeted to various journalism disciplines, a Hall of Fame banquet, a gospel brunch, media receptions, and much more for veteran, up-and-coming and future journalists.

For more information about the convention or to register, visit www.nabj.org or call the NABJ national office at (301) 445-7100.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with nearly 4,000 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.

Source: National Association of Black Journalists

CONTACT: Ryan Williams, Program Development Manager of National
Association of Black Journalists, +1-301-445-7100 Ext. 113, or ryan@nabj.org

Web site: http://www.nabj.org/

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