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April 20, 2004

2004 ASNE Survey Proves Industry
Needs NABJ’s Census of Black Editors

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Black Journalists is alarmed that fewer black journalists are working as supervisors in America’s daily newspapers and called on top editors to take advantage of NABJ’s growing census of members ready for key decision-making

Statement from Unity: Journalists of Color Statement from Asian American Journalists Association Statement from National Association of Hispanic Journalists ASNE 2004 Survey

positions.

Overall, U.S. newspapers saw a small increase in the number of black journalists working in their newsrooms, according to the 2004 diversity survey released by the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) today. The numbers slightly climbed by .09 percent or 19 black journalists nationwide, up from .04 and 40, respectively, the year before. Once again, the survey found that most black journalists work in newspapers with more than 100,000 in circulation.

“It’s pitiful that we continue to measure progress – or actually the lack of progress – in terms of plus .04 percent or .09 percent a year, when what we really need to see are spikes of 3 percent or 4 percent,” NABJ President Herbert Lowe said. “The industry says all the right things, but every year we find that we’re no better off than the year before. This is far too important for baby steps.”

According to the survey, nearly one out of five black journalists are supervisors, 572 out of 2,938. That’s a decrease of 15 black supervisors from the year before, and means they represent only .04 percent of all newspaper supervisors. Reporters still amount for 53 percent of black journalists while, overall, reporters only account for 45.8 percent of the total workforce across newsrooms.

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At the annual diversity roundtable discussion at ASNE’s convention in Washington, Lowe, a courts reporter at Newsday, urged newsroom editors to take advantage of and to help grow “Top Black Editors at U.S. Newspapers,” NABJ’s newly reformatted list of black supervisors primarily compiled by Don Hudson, managing editor at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

“What this list does is take away any excuse for any newspaper that insists it is serious about adding more black journalists to its editing ranks,” said Bryan Monroe, NABJ’s vice president-print and assistant vice president/news at Knight Ridder. “Our association stands ready to help increase the number of black journalists who call the shots and help make a greater difference in newsrooms.”

ASNE said its annual survey found that the percentage of journalists of color in America’s newsrooms increased last year by nearly half of one percentage point, but the growth to 12.94 percent lagged behind the rate of people of color in the U.S. population – 31.7 percent. ASNE has stated a goal of parity in newsroom representation by 2025.

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