Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Findings & Discussion

Conclusion

References

ABSTRACT

This study provides an assessment of the current working conditions of Latino/a journalists employed at Latino-oriented news media outlets as well as those employed at legacy companies and evaluates their evolution through the past seven years. The 2010 and 2017 investigations used a quantitative methodology for data collection. Journalists were invited to voluntarily and anonymously participate in an online survey. The 2010 outcomes demonstrated that journalists were dissatisfied with their on-the-job training programs and opportunities to increase their salaries. Reporters were satisfied with their work shift, amount and type of work, health insurance and financial resources. The 2017 results indicate that journalists were dissatisfied with their annual merit increases, opportunities to increase salaries, current salaries, and promotion opportunities. The data also show that respondents were satisfied with their communication with work peers, professional relationships with other journalists, company’s dress code, antidiscrimination policy, and personal work space. Furthermore, the seven-year comparative examination documented that the onthe-job training programs had improved. The features of financial resources and university-educated supervisor had worsened. Results determined that other matters that were negative in 2010 remain negative in 2017 such as disappointment with current salary, lack of opportunities to increase salaries, and lack of promotion opportunities.

Introduction

Nearly 50 years ago, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission, prepared a report evaluating the nature of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The Commission’s stated criticism regarding newsroom employers being all White evidenced the need for the participation of journalists of color in newsrooms to bring diversity of voices and topic perspectives for news consumers to be able to understand racial disparities around the country (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders 1968). Consequently, journalists of color were hired to work in newsrooms across the United States. Minority journalists were employed, but those reporters had to learn how to adjust to their working conditions in the newsroom, especially in the case of working in a predominantly White environment. Understanding reporters’ sense of dis/satisfaction at their jobs can be a considerable asset for news managers who have the power to address those concerns that would contribute to improving their workforce productivity and longevity as news media professionals. In the context of the fiftieth anniversary of the Kerner Commission, this paper examines the current working conditions of Latino/a reporters and evaluates their evolution through the past seven years.