Impact of the economy on minority journalists

Layoffs affect minority journalists

Layoffs are happening left and right, employees are dropping like flies and the unemployment rate continues to rise.  The impact of the recession has hit Americans hard and fast.  Many are struggling day-to-day to keep their jobs and make ends meet.

Roxanna Haynes being interviewed by Yale Student Patrick Lee

Journalists are especially feeling the effects of the recession.   According to an annual census released in April by the American Society of News Editors, 5,900 jobs were cut just last year in daily newspapers alone.  The ASNE reported at the end of December 2008, 46,700 journalists were left without jobs with 6,300 being minority professionals.

President of ASNE understands the importance of diversity in the newsrooms and the impact it has to the public.  He states how the future of media depends heavily on minority journalists because it is their ability to serve the needs of different cultural audiences.

‘“The loss of journalists is a loss for democracy,”’ said ASNE President Charlotte Hall. ‘“The loss of people of color from our newsrooms is especially disturbing because our future depends on our ability to serve multicultural audiences. ASNE is committed to keeping newsroom diversity on the front burner even in tough times.”’

Effects on other mediums

Newsprint isn’t the only news medium that is feeling the impact of the economy.  According to an article posted on The Boston Globe, the minority journalists in TV and radio are feeling the end of the stick more than print publication.

Statistics from Radio-Television News Directors Association:

• TV dropped from 23.6 percent last year to currently 21.8 percent.
• Radio dropped from 11.8 percent to currently 8.9 percent.

Congressional Democrats understand the validity of minority journalists in today’s media.  Recently, an effort led by House Majority Whip James Clyburn pushed the Obama administration to increase loans to minority owned radio broadcasters.  The loan is help radio broadcasters during these difficult economical times.

A letter written to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner from a representative stated: ‘“many jobs are at stake,”’ and ‘“the government’s fundamental interest in promoting a diversity of voice, including service to under-served communities.”’

Two issues that arise with the loan:

• The fairness between non-minority broadcasters being eligible for such a loan verses minority broadcasters.
• The lack of support  for business bailouts among members of Congress.

Impact on public relations practitioners

The relationship between journalists and PR practitioners is important.  Both professions work very close and rely on each other in different ways.  Journalists depend on PR professionals for news stories and information, while PR professionals send news releases and story ideas to journalists.

I feel the consequences of minority journalists losing their jobs affects the work of public relation practitioners.  Because  mediums are losing diversity in the newsrooms, it affects the objectivity in news releases, stories, visuals, etc.

For instance, if a public relations firm is trying to aim a campaign towards a Hispanic demographic, but several Hispanic news publications are going out of business, how can a practitioner reach its target audience without the help of the specific ethnic news mediums?

Americans are becoming more and more integrated with other cultures and when minority journalists are losing their jobs, so are their voices.