Women and Minorities

About RTDNA's Diversity Data

2011 Women and Minorities Data

The latest RTDNA/Hofstra University Annual Survey finds that the percentage of minorities rose in both television and radio. The percentage of minority news directors in television hit its third highest level ever and is the highest ever at non-Hispanic stations. On the flip side, most of the gains were small, and the percentage of minorities in TV news remained at the low end of the narrow band within which the percentages have floated for the last decade.

There was no good news for women in radio and television news. Women in TV news and women TV news directors stayed largely the same -- each had a slight dip -- and women in radio news and women radio news directors both fell noticeably.

2010 Women and Minorities Data

The latest RTDNA/Hofstra University Annual Survey found that the percentage of minority news directors rose in both television and radio in 2009 but, overall, the percentage of minorities in both radio and television fell for the third straight year, although the drop in television was small.

According to the survey, women in radio news rose slightly, but the percentage of women radio news directors went down, as did both the overall percentage of women in TV news and women TV news directors. The drop in women TV news directors was small, and the percentage of women TV news directors stands at the second-highest level ever.

2009 Women and Minorities Data

The latest RTNDA/Hofstra University Annual Survey finds women make up over 41 percent of the TV news workforce and over 29 percent of TV news directors.  Both are record highs, and it’s the second year in a row that the percentage of women TV news directors has set a new record. The percentages of women in radio news and women as radio news directors also rose.

In contrast, the minority numbers in both TV and radio fell from last year.

2008 Women and Minorities Data

The Face of the Workforce : Results from the latest RTNDA/Hofstra University Annual Survey show increases in the
number of women and minorities working in—and leading—TV and radio newsrooms. 

2007 Women and Minorities Data

African Americans have gained ground in radio and TV, while other minority groups have slipped. Published in the July/August 2007 issue of Communicator.

2006 Women and Minorities Data

Year of Extremes:

The 2006 survey of women and minorities in the newsroom shows the highest highs and the lowest lows. Published in the July/August 2006 issue of Communicator.

2005 Women and Minorities Data

Running in Place:

Minorities and women in television see little change while minorities fare worse in radio. Published in the July/August 2005 issue of Communicator.

2004 Women and Minorities Data

Recovering Lost Ground:

Minorities gain ground and women make management strides in radio and TV newsrooms in 2004. Published in the July/August 2004 issue of Communicator.