Key Documents: Section IV. Data on the Status and Practice of Journalism - Newsroom Diversity

American Society of News Editors—the Newsroom Employment Census (2008)

Newsrooms shrink; minority percentage increases slightly

The number of full-time journalists working at America's daily newspapers shrank by 4.4 percent in the past year, the largest decrease in the past 30 years according to the annual census conducted by the American Society of News Editors.

The percent of minority journalists working at daily newspapers grew minimally to 13.52 percent from 13.43 percent of all journalists, according to ASNE.

ASNE marks the 30th anniversary of the survey in 2008. The annual survey was a direct outgrowth of the March 1, 1968, findings of the Kerner Commission report. The commission, created to study the causes of devastating riots in Newark and Detroit, was highly critical of the lack of coverage of black communities and the lack of minority journalists at mainstream newspapers and broadcast stations. The commission said that newspapers and TV stations shared some of the responsibility for the civil unrest because of their failure to adequately and fairly cover black communities over the years.

ASNE created the annual Newsroom Employment Census in 1978 as a tool to measure the industry's success toward its goal of having the percentage of minorities working in newsrooms nationwide equal to the percentage of minorities in the nation's population. America's newspaper editors have been industry leaders in helping newspapers better reflect their communities to achieve greater accuracy and credibility.

The 1978 census found an estimated 43,000 full-time journalists working as editors, reporters, copy editors and photographers of which 3.95 percent were minorities. The 2008 census found 52,600 full-time journalists of which 13.52 are minorities.

ASNE President Gilbert Bailon said, “The numbers represent a dual reality: It's mildly encouraging that the minority percentage held steady despite difficult economic times that are causing many cutbacks. On the other hand, the total number of minority journalists employed at daily newspapers declined by nearly 300 people, which follows the pattern for the overall newsroom workforce. Such a trend will not help newspapers in their quest to reach parity with the minority population by 2025.”

ASNE Diversity Chair Caesar Andrews said, “Certainly the slight percentage increase is better than the alternative, especially during another tough year with overall staff reductions. But if we're not able to accelerate diversity inside newsrooms, and if we miss opportunities to produce more compelling news coverage, then the challenge of connecting with changing communities becomes that much more difficult.”

In 1980, the U.S. was 80 percent white not Hispanic and about 20 percent minority, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2006, the U.S. was 66 percent white who are not Hispanic and minorities were 34 percent, according to the census bureau.

“ASNE still gets credit for focusing intensely each year on diversity hiring. Too many newsrooms still fall short.

But there's no denying the progress since the census was started 30 years ago,” Andrews said. This year ASNE counted full-time journalists working online for the second time to reflect the industry emphasis on expanding its Web presence. This year's annual census found nearly 1,700 fulltime journalists working only on their newspapers' Web sites. of those, 17.79 percent are minorities.

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