Race, Ethnicity, and Student Sources: Minority Newsmakers in Student-Produced Versus Professional TV News Stories

Lawmakers, scholars, and media activists have long examined the lack of diversity on the public airwaves, paying particular attention to race. Historically, researchers have studied this issue through the lens of the national news media. In 2003, Poindexter, Smith, and Heider published the first comprehensive examination of race and ethnicity in local television news. This study takes that research one step further - into the classroom. It examines racial and ethnic inclusion in the work of students in a diversity-driven classroom and compares the findings to national reporting norms. The study finds student reporters included more racial and ethnic minorities in their stories and included diverse voices earlier and more consistently throughout their stories. Findings are interpreted in terms of organizational culture. The author makes parallels between classrooms and newsrooms and makes suggestions to academic and industry leaders to improve portrayals of race and ethnicity in local TV news.