Minorities in tv News...

[FrontierMan]

Even before reading that article about CNN, it's been obvious that race could be a factor when hiring on air talent. But who's favor does it work for, really? I've seen piles of tapes on news director's desks separated by race. Do they know who they want before they hire?

I'm your average white dude, and I think I've done pretty well finding a gig I want. I've seen other white dudes complain it's hard for white dudes.

On the flip side, A black reporter I know (who's actually pretty good) is having trouble finding a gig.

Who really has the advantage or disadvantage? Discuss...

[Clubbeat]

As a African-American who has worked in front of (briefly) and behind the scenes, from my experience it not only depends on the market, the ND's/GM's philosophy and whether or not the station's culture is interested in promoting the idea that it does not matter what your skin color is, it's about your skills and talent.

In market where the majority of the population is African-American, you see some representation of black men, women, latino's and latina's. Of course in some markets where there is a strong population of Asians, you will see stations trying to hire and promote people from those cultures.

In the past, it has been a tough way to go for blacks, women and other so-called minorities to gain aaccess to the on-air positions in this business but it's slowly changing. I applaud CNN for their efforts because our great nation is quickly becoming the melting pot that is always talked about. In less than 50 years from now, people of color will not only be the majority but wlll also wield more economic and political clout. The businesses involved in jorunalism must (and will) yield to that power or they will not survive.

As to your friend, how strong is his work? Where is he applying? Does he have a strong commanding presence on air? Can he write? These are many of the things that ND's and GM's look for first in a candidate. Color is usually second but a major part of the process.

[Produce man]

If you're under the impression that race is not a factor, you're very ignorant. I've worked for, and been good friends with news directors who have flat out told me the race/gender of the next hire before looking at a single tape. It's all about quotas. Not enough black people? You've got the NAACP breathing down your neck. Too few hispanics? Here comes LULAC. It's a shame, really. I've had to endure many people who were wrong for the job, but their skin color was just right.

[FrontierMan]

As to your friend, how strong is his work? Where is he applying? Does he have a strong commanding presence on air? Can he write? These are many of the things that ND's and GM's look for first in a candidate.

It's actually a SHE. I think she has a strong presence and her writing is very good, I just don't have much of an authority to critique considering we have the same level of experience. The number of tapes she's sent out without replies is a little shocking. She sends out tapes for most of the jobs posted on the pay sites.

[!]

I've had to endure many people who were wrong for the job, but their skin color was just right.

In all fairness, I have worked with many people who were caucasian who were also "wrong for the job."

Skin color does not respect the line between competence and incompetence.

[Clubbeat]

Nor should she see it that way. And Produce no denies that race isn't a factor in hiring someone but again from my experience it depends on the market demos and more important, who the ND and GM are comfortable with. Who they think will deliver what the need for the overall growthof their product.

The civil rights groups have little to do with who gets hired. They may protest or write letters but in the end, their clout wields little power. Now if a market is more than 40% black, latin or asian (or any other so-called minority) and those groups use their political and mostly economic clout by not supporting the station's advertisers because there is no one on air that looks and sounds like them, then yes, a smart business decision would be to hire a so-called minority.

And Produce, I've worked in some places where qualified blacks were not hired in favor of some second rate white person, simply because the ND had a negative experience personally with someone who is black.

This is the unfortunate part of where we are as a country. Most whites will always have the advantage. The cards are stacked in their favor despite Affirmative Action or any or set-aside programs. Eventually though, that will change. I just hope for the better.

[Produce man]

Clubeat, with all due respect, that has not been my experience at all. I'm at a place a thousand miles away now, but I used to work in Midland and Lubbock Tx. Minority rights groups wielded much power. Not enough black people? The NAACP screams racism. An article goes out in the paper, the competition covers it, an organized phone campaign in to the station. Protests outside the station...etc. Same for LULAC. I'm sure it's diffrerent at different places. Where I'm at, there is none of that pressure from minoity groups, although we are about 40-45% black. Still, my ND knows what ethnic group he's going to hire. And trust me, it's not white.

[Clubbeat]

Clubeat, with all due respect, that has not been my experience at all. I'm at a place a thousand miles away now, but I used to work in Midland and Lubbock Tx. Minority rights groups wielded much power. Not enough black people? The NAACP screams racism. An article goes out in the paper, the competition covers it, an organized phone campaign in to the station. Protests outside the station...etc. Same for LULAC. I'm sure it's diffrerent at different places. Where I'm at, there is none of that pressure from minoity groups, although we are about 40-45% black. Still, my ND knows what ethnic group he's going to hire. And trust me, it's not white.

Produce, I know and believe me as much as I like seeing different people who make up our multi-cultural landscape represented in newsrooms, I'm about making sure people are qualified to do the job...black, white, asian or purple with green stripes.

I know that in some places, the NAACP still holds sway over the local media but that also says to me that the local media may not necessarily be doing the right thing...and hiring qualified people who reflect the majority populations of the community. Especially today because as you know, the competition for eyeballs continues to increase and if local ND's have to be "forced" into hiring people of color, then the station or that ND/GM is not addressing the market demands.

I'm no fan of the NAACP as of late, because I think they're not doing more to help all of us to see our similarities. I support a lot of what they've done in the past, but it may be time for a new focus, a new mission for that nearly century old civil rights group.

Bottom line, people should be hired based on their qualifications and how they will impact the market/product. If that means the white person gets the gig over a black person, so be it as well as the other way around.

[ShakAttack]

If you're under the impression that race is not a factor, you're very ignorant. I've worked for, and been good friends with news directors who have flat out told me the race/gender of the next hire before looking at a single tape. It's all about quotas. Not enough black people? You've got the NAACP breathing down your neck. Too few hispanics? Here comes LULAC. It's a shame, really. I've had to endure many people who were wrong for the job, but their skin color was just right.

At my station we do NOT have a SINGLE black reporter, the last one we had was over three years ago. And yet we haven't received any complaints from the local NAACP that I'm aware about.

Neither do we have any Latino or Asian reporters. It's 100% caucasian on-air staff and our management seems to prefer it that way.

Dunno if our geographical location has to do anything with reporter hires.

[Produce man]

At the risk of sounding like a racist, I've gone through hundreds of tapes over the years. In that time, I've found that the number of tapes submitted by minorities to be far lower than the makeup of our community. I can't explain it. I liken it to hockey. You just don't see a lot of applicants.

[overthehill]

Former ND here...and current college instructor. I've seen the minority hiring thing from both sides--albeit from a Caucasian perspective.

As an ND, I saw relatively few minority applicants who were qualified to work in my sized market. Like many of the applicants, they just didn't have the two year minimum we required for on-air work. In my duration as ND, I'd say fewer than one in ten tapes for reporter openings were from a minority. About two out of 100 total tapes were "qualified" minorities--based on required experience for our market/station.

Our HR people told us to "leave the window open longer" (wait longer) when we had a job opening to allow more minorities to apply. But realistically, you can't wait forever to hire. Ironically, HR wanted more minority applicants but management did NOT push minority hires on the news department. I still felt hiring a diverse reporting staff was a good thing journalistically and to attempt to be a mirror of my community.

Yes, we did hear from some segments of our audience when we didn't have enough minority faces on air, but not often. They were usually the same complaining voices every six months or so.

In my current college TV news class of seniors and grad students, more than 20% are minorities. I see that as an optimistic sign. However, historically, not every broadcast journalism graduate actually goes into journalism. Can't quite remember the numbers, but I'd say it's in the vicinity of 15%.

[overthehill]

Former ND here...and current college instructor. I've seen the minority hiring thing from both sides--albeit from a Caucasian perspective.

As a ND, I saw relatively few minority applicants who were qualified to work in my sized market. Like many of the applicants, they just didn't have the two year minimum we required for on-air work. In my duration as ND, I'd say fewer than one in ten tapes for reporter openings were from a minority. About two out of 100 total tapes were "qualified" minorities--based on required experience for our market/station.

Our HR people told us to "leave the window open longer" (wait longer) when we had a job opening to allow more minorities to apply. But realistically, you can't wait forever to hire. Ironically, HR wanted more minority applicants but management did NOT push minority hires on the news department. I still felt hiring a diverse reporting staff was a good thing journalistically and to attempt to be a mirror of my community.

Yes, we did hear from some segments of our audience when we didn't have enough minority faces on air, but not often. They were usually the same complaining voices every six months or so.

In my current college TV news class of seniors and grad students, more than 20% are minorities. I see that as an optimistic sign. However, historically, not every broadcast journalism graduate actually goes into journalism. Can't quite remember the numbers, but I'd say it's in the vicinity of 15%.