Biography of Gilliam

Media diversity is a too-rarely addressed topic in the pantheon of lS.S. racial and ethnic issues. The dismal national statistics demonstrate the problem: African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American journalists combined were only 11.4 percent of newspaper professionals in 1996. Moreover, at a time when minorities totaled 26 percent of the population, the numbers appear to be stalled. Not only did the sum total of newspaper journalists of color fail to grow significantly after slow increases for nearly 20 years, but the number of black journalists actually dropped last year for the first time!

Minority organizations and journalism associations of color have worked intensely with media companies and industry associations to achieve the progress that has occurred. Yet too little diversity and racial sensitivity, especially among decision-makers, has profound results: insensitive coverage and images that reinforce negative racial stereotypes In addition, such coverage can lower political support for policies that help the poor, and contribute to anti-immigrant sentiment and strained relations among races.

Obstacles to accelerating the diversity in newsrooms range from antiaffirmative action sentiment, reluctance to share power with minorities, decreasing circulation and downsizing, and the paucity of students and professors of color in journalism schools

Minority journalists will continue to fight. But there is much truth in a recent Harvard University study suggestion: television and press coverage must become a part of the agenda of minority leaders.