by Dexter Rogers

Created on: April 20, 2009   Last Updated: April 23, 2009

There some instances where diversity is present but by and large the answer is no. Diversity is seriously lacking in the work place and society at large.

Last year I did a local statistical study on the media and to show how there's a lack of diversity. I knew going in I that the media wasn't very diverse as it should be. When I concluded my local study I was rather shocked at the findings.

I published a column last year in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette "More blacks should become journalists." There are two mid-size mainstream papers in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Journal Gazette, who published the article, had 89 employees and only three African Americans on it's staff. The neighboring paper, the News Sentinel, had three African Americans out of it's 37 employees. Of the six total combined African Americans only one of them did any sort of writing.

Since I write mostly commentary and reporting I took it a step further. I contacted the The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports located at the University of Central Florida where the reknowned Dr. Lapchick heads up the program. In their study they contacted over 300 of the biggest mainstream newspapers in the country and found the following. In 2008 92 percent of all Editors, Copy-editors, columnists and reporters wer white males. Over 90 percent off all mainstream newspapers are owned by white males. Also, 89 percent of all columnists/sports writers are white.

In short, over 90 percent of all information disseminated over the television, radio, magazines, and newspapers comes from a white male vantage point.

I've personally been turned down for assignments I know I should have received. On several occasions I knew race factored in the publications decision. I'm still achieving my goals because I'm delivering the goods. But I'm not naive enough to think there's diversity in my field and things are where they should be.

Let's look at professional sports. In the NBA 76 percent of the players are African American yet only one team has predominate ownership. In the NFL 66 percent of the players are African American yet there's no African American ownership, just three General Managers, and and five African American coaches. Major League baseball is the absolute worse. Just 10.2 percent of the players are African American, no African American ownership, and two General Managers.

Diversity?

In society in general if you look at the fortune 500 companies the vast majority of them are owned and controlled by white males. Though Barack Obama is President politics is still lily white. There's currently only one African American Senator who has a seat.

Without question there is a lack of diversity in the workplace in the media, society, and sports. While there's been progress made in some areas by and large there's still a lot of work to do. This is particularly the case with respect to the media. But the beautiful thing about the internet is it's evening the playing field irrespective of color, race, religion, or gender. For the most part if you can write well and are passionate there's a place for you.

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