Panel to explore Hispanic representation in newsrooms, Thursday

A look at Latino underrepresentation in the media and entertainment industry will be discussed beginning at noon Thursday, Dec. 1, at the National Press Club.

According to the Government Accountability Office, Latino journalists make up only 12% of employees in media organizations, compared with up nearly 19% of the U.S. population. Hispanic representation in the media workforce has grown at a slower pace (only 1%) than in non-media industries, which grew to 18% from 15%. Hispanic media workers are also less likely to hold management or leadership positions. According to the GAO, 7% of media workers are first and mid-level managers, while only 3% represent senior and executive management.  

Thursday's discussion, sponsored by the Communicators Team, will look at ways to accelerate changes and arrive at fair representation in today’s newsrooms. The panelists will discuss why diversity programs have failed and what barriers continue to keep journalists from entering or advancing in their careers. They will also discuss the GAO’s recommendations and how journalists can help push for change in their own organizations.

This event is open to Club members and registration is required..   

The panelists include Michele Salcedo, former editor, Axios Latino; Felix Contreras, co-creator and host, NPR Music’s Alt.Latino;  and Silvia Foster-Frau, multiculturalism reporter for The Washington Post and vice president of the Washington chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

NPC Communicators Team member Fernanda Durand, a public affairs director at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, will moderate the discussion.