The News

Cable Networks Lock Out Women and People of Color

So what does CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC all have in common?

Well besides shoddy coverage of communities of color, all three cable networks and several others maintain an all-white cast of hosts for its programs between 4pm and midnight, according to a recent study.

In addition, the country’s top cable news networks are only likely to invite racially diverse guests when covering race, a Media Matters study published Monday reported.

“Do cable-news producers view the guests added to the lineup during the Imus controversy as qualified to talk only about issues of race, and not other issues of national and political significance?” the report said.

Two weeks after the Imus controversy when networks experienced a hike in the number of people of color on air, networks quickly reverted to being a mostly white-male dominated forum, the study found— showing how little the Imus debacle has translated to media inclusion of women and people of color.

Check out the full study here.

Posted at 12:38 PM, May 07, 2007 in Media Analysis | Permalink | View Comments