In a recent analysis released by the media-monitoring group, Media Matters, majority of evening cable news guests are usually always white and male. The report, entitled “Diversity on Evening Cable News in 13 Charts” examined the lack of women and people of color as guests on evening cable news on such networks as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.
During the month of April 2013, Media Matters examined evening cable news shows on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Throughout the month, they saw that only 33% of MSNBC guests, 29% Fox News guests, and 24% CNN guests were female.  The other most underrepresented group were Latinos. The study found that only 2% of CNN and MSNBC and 3% of Fox guests were of Latino descent. Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, believes that a lack of diversity on TV spreads the idea that such groups aren’t making “meaningful contributions” to the country, which is far from the truth.
This story has been touched upon once before back in 2000, in the Los Angeles Times. Reported was the push of the multiethnic coalition to increase the diversity of the guests and anchors on network television. Afterwards, the NAACP and NBC agreed on ensuring a greater involvement of minorities, which lead to other large networks like CBS and Fox making similar pledges. Since 2000, these promises have not been enacted, and the new study documents the stagnancy in their diversity.
Sources:
Greg Braxton. “Minority Groups Mend Rift Over TV Diversity; Media: Multiethnic Coalition Will Intensify and Expand Efforts to Include Studios and Cable Networks. One Leader Calls Earlier Split a ‘Misunderstanding.’.” Los Angeles Times, Jan 12, 2000, http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jan/12/news/mn-53301
Jorge Rivas. “Study Finds People Of Color Nearly Invisible On Evening Cable News – COLORLINES.” COLORLINES, May 14, 2013, http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/05/study_finds_people_of_color_nearly_invisible_on_evening_cable_news.html
Student Researcher: Natalie Popplewell (College of Marin)
Faculty Evaluator: Susan Rahman (College of Marin)