Women Journalists of Color: Present Without Power
APPENDIX I: Survey Methodology

"I was glad you asked me the questions. I wanted to tell someone my story."
Hispanic journalist at the Unity '99 Convention in Seattle

In February 1999, the IWMF gathered a group of prominent women and men from all sectors of the news media with a commitment to creating more diversity in U.S. newsrooms. This Project Advisory Committee laid out a plan of action for the IWMF to study the perceptions of women journalists of color toward the work environment, the challenges they face in the newsrooms and their opportunities for advancement in the profession. A secondary set of data was to be collected to measure similar perceptions of managers of newsrooms.

Clearly, there are a wide variety of issues and questions that could be approached through such a study which are relevant to the status of women of color in the news media. The IWMF and the Project Advisory Committee found it necessary to focus the scope of this study on specific challenges and opportunities in the newsroom that allow for, encourage or inhibit the potential for women of color to succeed in the news business. Obviously not all questions could be addressed at this point. We hope that this study will create a base-line from which to develop additional studies in the future.

To begin data collection, surveys were sent to 7,182 newsroom managers and women journalists of color in March 1999. Overall, the survey received a 15 percent response rate. Longer, more detailed surveys were mailed to 2,986 women journalists of color who are members of the four minority media associations (National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Native American Journalists Association, Asian American Journalists Association and National Association of Black Journalists). Separate, shorter surveys were sent to 4,196 newsroom managers from newspapers, radio and television stations, and that survey received a 7 percent response rate.

An online survey was available on the IWMF's website for a four-week period. Overall, a majority of responses came through to the IWMF on-line. Also, the IWMF conducted a phone bank to elicit responses from managers. (Some managers felt that the information was too sensitive to discuss by telephone).

The size of the respondent sample and the fact that the respondents to the survey were self-selecting, places some limitations on the data. However, the IWMF maintains that the results are important indicators of the views of women journalists and of newsroom managers, and shows significant differences in perceptions that have great impact on diversity issues in the newsroom.

If you are interested in the Profile of Respondents or a breakdown of survey results, contact the IWMF.