Women in the Newsroom

A Washington Post article, "Men, Signing Off" raises an interesting qustion: Why are there so many women in the newsrooms? Why do they outnumber males on-air?

In the article, local Washington, D.C. news directors are asked about their newsrooms and why they think women applicants outnumber men. Bill Lord, WJLA (Channel 7) news director, says female applicants versus male applicants are at about a 3 to 1 ratio. He also said that percentage increases on a yearly basis.

A Radio and Television News Directors Association survey says women= 57 percent of anchors, 58 percent of TV reporters, 55 percent of executive producers, 66 percent of news producers, and 56 percent of news writers.

Women entered the newsrooms about 40 years ago. Some of their male counterparts were not happy. Now, these women account for more positions than men. The article says beyond "the sports guy, the weathercaster, the boss--men are disappearing from TV newsrooms."

But, Why? Why is a previously male-dominated industry turned female? Is it the recent celebrity-status appeal? Why are males no longer as drawn to T.V. journalism? Some experts say men have abandoned the field and partially attribute it to the very low salaries at an entry-level job.

If you look around at the broadcasters at Medill, you will see this trend in full force. I find it strange and wish more males would enter into the industry to keep it more representative of the public.

POSTED BY: TD