Minority Representation In The TV And Radio Biz ‘Historically Low’

America may be becoming an increasingly diverse country, but our radio and TV businesses aren’t keeping up with the nation’s changing demographics. According to a Hofstra University study, minorities make up only 20% of TV news staffing and a miniscule 5% of the radio biz. That’s down from 21.8% and 8.9% in 2009.

Radio Business Report has more:

The minority figure is historically low: it stood at 7.9% in 2005, 10% in 2000, and 10.8% in 1990. Female employment, on the other hand, was relatively stable over that past decade, sitting at 21.2% in 2005 and 21% in 2000; and is still ahead of 1990′s 17.8%.

The drop-off in minorities from 2009 to 2010 occurred mainly among Hispanics on the TV side — they went from 8.8% to 5.8%. African Americans actually enjoyed a surge, improving from 9.6% to 11.5%. Asian Americans fell from 3% to 2.3% and Native Americans were stable at 0.5%. On the radio side, African Americans fell from 5.4% to 2.9%, Hispanics from 2.3% to 0.7%; and Asian Americans from 0.6% to 0.4%. However, Native Americans were able to buck the trend, improving from 0.6% to 1.1%.

H/T Ed Padgett

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