A Washington-based civil rights group gives U.S. TV networks fair grades in its annual report card on diversity in front of and behind the camera.
The report by the National Asian Pacific American Media Coalition concluded there has been "marginal improvement" in the number and quality of professional opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans at ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. However, the report also found "a number of significant missed opportunities" to employ more Asian Pacific Americans during the past year.
ABC went from a C- to a C; CBS went from a D+ to a C-. FOX went from a B- to a C+; NBC went from a B- to C+.
The report card evaluates steps the networks have taken to provide opportunities for Asian Pacific American actors to work in prime time on scripted and reality shows. It also measures hiring of Asian Pacific American writers, producers, directors and executives, as well as the degree to which networks extended program development and procurement deals to Asian Pacific Americans.
The networks are also graded on the basis commitments they have made to diversity that may not have had sufficient time to produce results.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
