Florida International University’s Research on the Gender Gap in the Nation’s Newsrooms

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Florida International University in Miami has teamed up with the American Society of News Editors to collect and analyze data on the presence of women and minorities in the nation’s newsrooms.

The study found that in 2015 there are 2,808 women who serve in supervisory positions in American newsrooms. They made up 35.3 percent of all supervisors. Some 63 percent of all newsrooms had a woman among the top three editorial positions.

Women made up 37.9 percent of the reporters and writers, 41.4 percent of the copy and layout editors, and 27.9 percent of the photographers and artists.  All told, women were 37.1 percent of all newsroom professionals.

There has been very little progress in increasing the number of women in American newsrooms since the turn of the century. In fact, among the reporters and writers, the percentage of women is down from 1999.

“It is a great honor for us to collaborate with ASNE to conduct the prestigious national survey for the first time,” said Yu Liu, assistant professor Florida International University, and principal investigator on the project. “We are excited to be part of the research that helps better understand the nature of the news industry with regard to diversity issues.”

Dr. Liu has been on the faculty at Florida International University since 2012. She holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Miami.