Journalism in Color Racial Reporting in the

Obama Age2010 Survey Results

presented by TheLoop21.com & UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.

Obama improves race relations, media does not

• 51% of journalists of color surveyed believe the election of Barack Obama improved race relations

• 14% believe mainstream media’s racial coverage has improved race relations

More coverage of race doesn’t mean

better coverage• 68% of journalists of color surveyed

indicated that racial issues were more likely to be covered in the last 12 months.

But ... the coverage was not necessarily positive.

Media doesn’t help advance a post-racial society

• Mainstream media’s coverage of racial issues over the past 12 months is just as likely to be detrimental to a post-racial society as it is to help create one, according the journalists of color surveyed.

Media is mediocre on the issues that count

Good toExcellent Fair to Poor

Promoted inter-racial conversation 27% 70%

Dispel negative racial stereotypes 9% 89%

Understanding on womenʼs issues 16% 81%

Contributed to racial tolerance 10% 85%

Contributed to religious tolerance 7% 84%

Media not up tocovering news in a

multiracial society

• 95% of journalists of color surveyed do not believe mainstream media “adequately covers stories about race relations in a multiracial society.”

Who is trusted to be fair on racial issues?• 69% of journalists of color

surveyed said that they “somewhat trust” or “highly trust” CNN to provide unbiased reporting on race.

• 3% said they trusted FOX.

What is trusted to be fair on racial issues?• 80% of journalists of color

surveyed said that they “somewhat trust” or “highly trust” PUBLIC RADIO to provide unbiased reporting on race.

• Cable news and Internet bloggers were least trusted.

Why the media gets it wrong on race & culture

• 41% of journalists of color surveyed said it is because of the lack of diversity in newsrooms.

• 26% said it is because of a lack of understanding by editors/producers.

What do you think?How do you feel about how race

is covered in the news? Is it fair? Is it unbiased?

Share your opinion in our TRUTH IN MEDIA poll.