In the early days of broadcasting, the faces of local television newscasters, reporters and management were almost exclusively White and male.
Although progress in diversity has been made, much work remains to assure that local media teams look like the communities they serve. Advocates for newsroom and media diversity have constantly pointed to the need for people of color in newsroom management as well as on the screen.
Therefore, a pending transaction between two companies with reputations for supporting racial and gender inclusivity is being welcomed. Federal regulators, namely the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) currently have the opportunity to support more diverse local broadcasting by approving the purchase of major broadcaster TEGNA by Standard General, a minority-owned firm. Together, Standard General and TEGNA, will be led by television industry veteran Deb McDermott, the first woman from broadcast management to be inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, forming America’s largest minority-owned, women-led broadcasting company.
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The Tennessee Tribune | by Hazel Trice Edney