Who speaks on primetime cable news? An analysis of the gender, race, and age of TV pundits
Spurred by the 100-year anniversary of the 19th amendment, the Unerased | Black Women Speak public engagement initiative is challenging our country to recognize the contribution of Black women to civil rights and our nation’s history, overall. But are they visible in the conversation? In particular, are Black women 55 and older — who can draw on their experience in the civil rights movement and decades of policy advocacy — visible in a key part of our nation’s public discourse: television news?
To find out, BMSG conducted a quantitative analysis of who occupies the expert seats on network news programs that air Monday through Friday during prime time.
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Who’s at the primetime table? An analysis of host, contributor, and guest appearances on six weeks of primetime cable news
Non-Black older men have historically been overrepresented in mainstream news coverage, including primetime cable TV programming. A new analysis from BMSG has found that little has changed, even in the weeks following major national events that call for Black voices, like the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and the declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Our new report, made possible by the Unerased team, explores the depth of the disparity, especially for transgender people and older Black women.