Nonprofit Newsrooms Are Overwhelmingly White

Chart: Nonprofit Newsrooms Are Overwhelmingly White

More than half of all nonprofit news outlets have either no people of color or “only a small percentage” within their ranks.

The vast majority — more than two-thirds — do not have a single person of color in leadership at the executive level.

The INN Index surveyed 117 nonprofit news organizations — roughly half of the Institute for Nonprofit News’ membership — on the diversity of their staffs in 2019 and asked related questions about hiring practices and inclusion efforts.

The report represents the broadest sampling of diversity, equity, and inclusion data in the sector to date. 

Back in 2016, INN found only eight member organizations either led by people of color or serving communities of color out of more than 100 members.

Three years later, with more than 285 members, INN found that “about 60” are led by people of color and 30 are dedicated to covering underrepresented communities.

On average, nonprofit newsrooms are 68% white and led by an executive level that’s 81% white.

Black journalists make up 9% of staff and 6% of leadership positions while 9% of staff and executive-level positions are filled by Hispanic employees. Read the rest at Nieman Lab.

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