Minority Journalists Leaving Newspaper Biz in Droves
Posted April 21st, 2008 by Joe Torres
Last week we learned that the state of diversity in the media industry continues to grow more stark.
For only the second time in more than 20 years, the number of minority journalists leaving the daily newspaper profession outnumbered the number landing their first job.
Meanwhile, the industry as a whole witnessed its largest decline in the number of journalists leaving the industry in 30 years, according to the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Nearly 2,400 newspaper journalists left the profession last year.
In 1978, ASNE set a goal that called for newsrooms to reach ethnic and racial parity by 2000 — though it later moved its goal to 2025. But it’s improbable that ASNE’s goal will ever be met given the current state of newsroom diversity.
The number of journalists of color working at daily papers declined by 671 last year, while only 392 entered the profession. And overall, people of color made up just 13.5 percent of all newsroom employees.
While most news stories about that state of the newspaper industry have focused on declining industry revenues, most have failed to discuss that the newspaper industry still remains a very profitable business with average profit margins of 15 to 20 percent.
Yet because more than 80 percent of newspapers are owned by corporations, stockholders are demanding a greater return on their investment, which has resulted in massive layoffs throughout the newspaper industry and the declining quality of journalism the American public receives.
Editor & Publisher reported last week that many of the editors attending the ASNE and Newspapers Association of America joint convention in Washington have discussed privately their desire to leave the industry because of the increasing pressure they face daily to increase profit margins.
It costs money to produce quality news. So in the face of growing pressure from Wall Street, too many newspapers have reduced their commitment serious journalism.
But this has not stopped the Newspaper Association of America from continuing to lobby Congress and the FCC to allow even more media consolidation. The NAA actually criticized the FCC decision last December to lift the longstanding ban on “newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership” for not going far enough.
Make no mistake about it, the FCC’s new rules left the back door open for one company to swallow up newspapers and TV stations in markets of all sizes across the country. The result will be less local news and an even tighter squeeze on newsrooms.
It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. The newspaper lobby is pushing for policies that harm journalism. The quality of newspapers declines as a result, and they start losing readers. Then the lobbyists call for more consolidation — more bad medicine that only makes thing worse.
Consolidation isn’t only unhealthy for working journalists. It hurts minority media owners, too. Just last week, the Government Accountability Office confirmed that the FCC was flying blind when it comes to knowing the number broadcast stations owned by people of color.
The FCC has failed to even accurately count of the number of minority owners, let alone conduct an honest accounting of how its policies might affect them. Not that the latter is a big secret: More consolidation means less minority ownership.
What’s can we do? A “resolution of disapproval” is pending in the Senate that would overturn the FCC’s decision to lift the ban on one company owning newspapers and broadcast stations in the same market. This crucial legislation has bipartisan support, but it needs your help.
If you want better journalism, media diversity and, well, a functioning democracy, then you should call or write your senators today.
