Blame it on editors, or personal choices. But men and women tend to have stereotypical beats in the news business.
Case in point: 83% of those who cover sports are
men, and 15% are women, according to a study by Pew Research Center. U.S. journalists’ beats vary widely by gender and other factors. Men are also more likely to cover political news (60%) and
science and technology (58%).
But of journalists who cover health, 64% are women and 34% are men. Similarly, women comprise 63% of those who report on education & family and 58% of
reporters who focus on social issues & policy.
This indicates just how ingrained those beat assignments are in newsrooms.
Another disappointing finding for believers in
diversity and equity is that 76% of all journalists are white. Only 6% are Black, 8% Hispanic and 3% Asian.
Given those numbers, white reporters are also more likely—by vast
percentages—to cover just about all beats. Black journalists come closest on social issues & policy—15%, versus 20% for Hispanics and 53% for whites.
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Age also plays a
role—millennials and GenX dominate most subject areas. Gen Z and boomers are either just entering or have left the business.
While 66% of U.S. journalists are full-time employees
and dominate most beats, the entertainment & travel beat is an exception—57% are freelance/self-employed and 43% full-time.
This study is a new analysis of a survey of 12,000
working U.S. journalists conducted in 2022