http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-diversity14oct14,1,7962337,print.stor
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CALIFORNIA

Coalition Laments the Invisibility of Asians, Native Americans on TV

CBS gets the lowest overall grade of the four networks rated by the
diversity advocates. Fox gets the highest mark.

By Greg Braxton
Times Staff Writer

October 14, 2003

A report released Monday by an advocacy group monitoring diversity on TV
applauded the increasing visibility of blacks and Latinos in front of and
behind TV cameras, but lamented the continuing invisibility of Asians and
Native Americans.

Leaders of the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, which tracks how well ABC,
CBS, NBC and Fox are honoring a 1999 agreement to increase diversity, said
at a news conference that they would continue to pressure the networks to
better reflect a multicultural society.

As part of the news conference, the Asian Pacific Media Coalition and the
National Latino Media Council issued "report cards" to the networks.
Apesanahkwat, an actor representing American Indians in Film & Television,
said his group chose not to issue a report card, adding that he was
disheartened by the virtual absence of Native Americans on television but
was optimistic because of several initiatives being considered to increase
Native American representation.

In previous years, the three organizations issued one combined grade to
each network, under the umbrella of the Multi-Ethnic Coalition, which also
includes the NAACP. This year, because of disagreements over how much
progress has been made, the groups made individual reports. The NAACP will
issue its report next week.

"All of the networks have finally come to the realization it's good
business to incorporate people of color," Esteban Torres, chairman of the
Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, said.

Executives at the networks contended that they had made significant
improvements in increasing diversity on television.

Of the four networks, CBS, which landed at the bottom last year with an
overall grade of D-minus from the coalition, received the lowest overall
mark of any network evaluated by the two groups — a D-plus given by the
Asian organization.

Karen K. Narasaki, chairwoman of the group, said the network had limited
improvement from last year, and in the matter of Asians on screen, "the
situation has continued to further deteriorate."

However, she added that the network had demonstrated a recent increase in
its commitment to diversity, which raised its overall grade.

CBS was awarded a C-plus by the National Latino Media Council. Torres, also
chair of the Latino council, praised CBS Television Chairman and Chief
Executive Leslie Moonves for increasing the Latino presence in prime time
and for spearheading the network's commitment to diversity.

"We're pleased with the recognition that our commitment to diversity
received," CBS said.

Fox received the highest overall grade — a B-plus from the Latino council.
The Asian group gave Fox a B-minus.

The Asian group awarded an overall grade of C-minus to ABC and B-minus to
NBC.

The Latino group gave an overall grade of B to ABC and C-plus to NBC.

The network grades were based on several categories, including the number
of minority actors, writers, producers, directors and entertainment
executives, and the commitment to diversity initiatives.