ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A new study of 320 websites and newspapers that belong to the Associated Press Sports Editors shows slight improvement in their racial hiring practices last year, while citing their failure to make strides in gender hiring for key newsroom positions.
The report, requested by APSE, was released by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. It gives an overall grade of C plus, up from a C in 2008, for racial hires and an F in gender hires for jobs including sports editor, columnist, reporter and copy editor.
Overall, the study says sports departments are still being led mostly by white men.
Richard Lapchick, the study’s primary author, is calling for a rule that would mandate members consider a more diverse pool when hiring for all key vacancies.
