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Groups Slam TV Networks for Lack of Diversity

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Two years ago, the coalition secured agreements from the four major networks to increase the number of minorities on screen and off. There have been some improvements, particularly for African-Americans, but the coalition says much more work is needed.

The group released its third annual diversity ``report card'' at the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists in midtown Los Angeles. ABC and Fox upped their grades slightly over last year, moving from D-minus to C-minus and C-minus to C, respectively. But both NBC and CBS slid backward. NBC moved from a C to a D-plus, and CBS moved from a D-plus to a D-minus.

The report focused on the inclusion of Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanics and American Indians. The NAACP will present its own report later this summer.

Responses from the networks were mixed.

CBS disputed the coalition's findings. ``CBS will continue to do what we know is the right and positive thing and not be sidetracked into engaging in a divisive and negative debate,'' the company said in a statement.

Mitsy Wilson, Fox's senior vice president for diversity, who attended the event, said her company has made significant changes. She noted the network's upcoming 21 series have 18 writers of color. Wilson attributed the changes to the coalition and to Fox's executive team.

ABC President Alex Wallau said the network will continue increasing the presence of minorities in front of the camera in such shows as ``My Wife and Kids'' and an upcoming American Indian miniseries, as well as encouraging writers and directors with fellowships and grants.

NBC denied it had decreased minority presence. ``Last fall, every new series NBC put on the air had a diverse cast, and the same will be true for this fall for our five premiering shows,'' the company said.

The coalition saved its harshest words for CBS. Members cited several shows set in cities with large minority populations that feature mostly white casts, such as ``Presidio Med.''

Karen Narasaki, chair of the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, criticized the show for failing to include any Asian Pacific Americans among its main cast.

'``Presidio Med' is based in San Francisco, where one in three people is Asian-American and where a significant portion of the medical profession, from orderlies to nurses to doctors are Asian-American,'' she said.

CBS said it intends to cast more Asians in guest roles as the series progresses.

The coalition is urging main corporate sponsors of CBS -- General Motors, Proctor & Gamble, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Philip Morris, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and AOL Time Warner -- to pressure the network to increase diversity.