GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Media Industry Statistics

Media diversity improves; leadership remains predominantly non-white, female, male.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

80% of media executives acknowledge that diversity impacts consumer engagement positively

Statistic 2

In 2023, 65% of media campaigns aimed at diversity promotion saw measurable improvement in audience perception

Statistic 3

Media literacy programs addressing bias reached 40 million students globally in 2023

Statistic 4

Only 10% of media outlets have policies addressing racial bias explicitly

Statistic 5

Only 24% of executive roles in the media industry are held by women

Statistic 6

LGBTQ+ representation in media leadership remains at around 4%

Statistic 7

The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in media C-suite roles is approximately 8%

Statistic 8

Approximately 12% of media executives identify as LGBTQ+

Statistic 9

Only 13% of media leadership are people with disabilities, despite 26% of the population having some form of disability

Statistic 10

In 2022, women of color held 12% of all newsroom executive roles, showing incremental progress from previous years

Statistic 11

90% of media leaders agree that diversity contributes to innovation

Statistic 12

Only 16% of senior story editors across media are women, indicating a gender gap

Statistic 13

Female voices account for about 33% of sources quoted in major news outlets

Statistic 14

Representation of people with disabilities in media content has increased by 15% over the past five years

Statistic 15

Less than 3% of media stories feature LGBTQ+ topics compared to the percentage of the population that identifies as LGBTQ+

Statistic 16

Only 15% of media content created by diverse producers is reflected in mainstream programming

Statistic 17

78% of journalists believe that more diverse sources lead to richer storytelling

Statistic 18

Representation of women in media advertising is at 35%, with significant growth since 2018

Statistic 19

Multiracial characters account for 9% of characters in television dramas, up from 4% in 2019

Statistic 20

70% of audience members want to see more diverse representation in news stories

Statistic 21

Representation of diverse genders in media has increased by 20% over five years

Statistic 22

62% of media consumers report feeling more connected to brands and outlets that portray diverse communities authentically

Statistic 23

The publication of diversity-focused media content rose by 25% in 2023

Statistic 24

In 2023, only 28% of media campaigns targeted minority audiences specifically, indicating room for growth

Statistic 25

Advertising featuring diverse talent increased by 38% in 2023, according to industry reports

Statistic 26

82% of media consumers believe that seeing diversity in media is important for social progress

Statistic 27

Representation of Latinx characters in television increased by 15% over four years, now accounting for 17% of main characters

Statistic 28

The overall diversity index in media content improved by 12% from 2019 to 2023, according to industry metrics

Statistic 29

67% of news stories about social issues now include diverse perspectives, showing significant progress

Statistic 30

85% of media consumers support increased diversity in content, according to recent surveys

Statistic 31

People of color make up about 36% of the media industry workforce

Statistic 32

Black journalists constitute approximately 6% of newsroom staff

Statistic 33

In 2022, only 20% of media companies had dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officers

Statistic 34

70% of media professionals believe that diversity initiatives are necessary for better storytelling

Statistic 35

45% of people of color report experiencing discrimination in media workplaces

Statistic 36

Women in the media industry are paid on average 27% less than their male counterparts

Statistic 37

60% of media companies have implemented unconscious bias training for their staff

Statistic 38

52% of media professionals believe there is still significant bias against non-white journalists

Statistic 39

Diversity-focused hiring initiatives have increased hiring of underrepresented groups by 30% over the last three years

Statistic 40

The percentage of media projects featuring minority creators increased from 22% in 2019 to 33% in 2023

Statistic 41

85% of media companies report that diversity positively influences brand reputation

Statistic 42

58% of media workers feel that their workplace is not inclusive for non-binary staff

Statistic 43

48% of media companies have a dedicated multicultural content division

Statistic 44

In a 2023 survey, 55% of media employees felt their workplace lacked sufficient support for minority issues

Statistic 45

Diversity training completion rates among media staff are at 70%, with higher retention of diverse staff

Statistic 46

Media industry professionals report that inclusive language in scripts increased by 28% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 47

Only 19% of media internships are targeted at minority students, indicating a lack of accessibility

Statistic 48

The share of media executives who advocate for equitable pay rose to 75% in 2023, up from 60% in 2021

Statistic 49

The number of media brands recognized for DEI practices has doubled over the past three years, from 25% to 50%

Statistic 50

Around 54% of media professionals believe their organization is making meaningful progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

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Key Highlights

Only 24% of executive roles in the media industry are held by women
People of color make up about 36% of the media industry workforce
Black journalists constitute approximately 6% of newsroom staff
In 2022, only 20% of media companies had dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officers
LGBTQ+ representation in media leadership remains at around 4%
Female voices account for about 33% of sources quoted in major news outlets
The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in media C-suite roles is approximately 8%
70% of media professionals believe that diversity initiatives are necessary for better storytelling
Only 10% of media outlets have policies addressing racial bias explicitly
45% of people of color report experiencing discrimination in media workplaces
Representation of people with disabilities in media content has increased by 15% over the past five years
Less than 3% of media stories feature LGBTQ+ topics compared to the percentage of the population that identifies as LGBTQ+
Women in the media industry are paid on average 27% less than their male counterparts

Despite growing acknowledgment of its importance, the media industry continues to grapple with underrepresentation and systemic biases, as statistics reveal only 24% of executive roles held by women, Black journalists constitute just 6%, and LGBTQ+ leadership remains at around 4%, highlighting both progress and significant gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Audience Perceptions and Consumer Expectations

80% of media executives acknowledge that diversity impacts consumer engagement positively
In 2023, 65% of media campaigns aimed at diversity promotion saw measurable improvement in audience perception
Media literacy programs addressing bias reached 40 million students globally in 2023

Audience Perceptions and Consumer Expectations Interpretation

These compelling statistics reveal that prioritizing diversity and media literacy not only enhances consumer engagement and audience perception but also signifies a strategic shift where inclusivity becomes both morally right and commercially savvy in the media industry.

Industry Policies, Training, and Reporting

Only 10% of media outlets have policies addressing racial bias explicitly

Industry Policies, Training, and Reporting Interpretation

With only 10% of media outlets explicitly tackling racial bias, it’s clear that the industry is still filing its diversity and inclusion reports as "works in progress," rather than "works completed."

Leadership and Executive Diversity

Only 24% of executive roles in the media industry are held by women
LGBTQ+ representation in media leadership remains at around 4%
The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in media C-suite roles is approximately 8%
Approximately 12% of media executives identify as LGBTQ+
Only 13% of media leadership are people with disabilities, despite 26% of the population having some form of disability
In 2022, women of color held 12% of all newsroom executive roles, showing incremental progress from previous years
90% of media leaders agree that diversity contributes to innovation
Only 16% of senior story editors across media are women, indicating a gender gap

Leadership and Executive Diversity Interpretation

Despite widespread acknowledgment that diversity fuels innovation, media executive roles remain predominantly male, cisgender, and non-disabled, highlighting a stark need for meaningful inclusion that reflects society’s rich tapestry.

Representation in Media Content and Storytelling

Female voices account for about 33% of sources quoted in major news outlets
Representation of people with disabilities in media content has increased by 15% over the past five years
Less than 3% of media stories feature LGBTQ+ topics compared to the percentage of the population that identifies as LGBTQ+
Only 15% of media content created by diverse producers is reflected in mainstream programming
78% of journalists believe that more diverse sources lead to richer storytelling
Representation of women in media advertising is at 35%, with significant growth since 2018
Multiracial characters account for 9% of characters in television dramas, up from 4% in 2019
70% of audience members want to see more diverse representation in news stories
Representation of diverse genders in media has increased by 20% over five years
62% of media consumers report feeling more connected to brands and outlets that portray diverse communities authentically
The publication of diversity-focused media content rose by 25% in 2023
In 2023, only 28% of media campaigns targeted minority audiences specifically, indicating room for growth
Advertising featuring diverse talent increased by 38% in 2023, according to industry reports
82% of media consumers believe that seeing diversity in media is important for social progress
Representation of Latinx characters in television increased by 15% over four years, now accounting for 17% of main characters
The overall diversity index in media content improved by 12% from 2019 to 2023, according to industry metrics
67% of news stories about social issues now include diverse perspectives, showing significant progress
85% of media consumers support increased diversity in content, according to recent surveys

Representation in Media Content and Storytelling Interpretation

While strides in diversity within the media industry—such as a 12% rise in the overall diversity index and a 38% increase in advertising featuring diverse talent—highlight promising progress, the persistent underrepresentation of marginalized groups and the gap between audience desire and actual content underscore that the industry still has a long way to go before true inclusivity becomes the norm.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

People of color make up about 36% of the media industry workforce
Black journalists constitute approximately 6% of newsroom staff
In 2022, only 20% of media companies had dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officers
70% of media professionals believe that diversity initiatives are necessary for better storytelling
45% of people of color report experiencing discrimination in media workplaces
Women in the media industry are paid on average 27% less than their male counterparts
60% of media companies have implemented unconscious bias training for their staff
52% of media professionals believe there is still significant bias against non-white journalists
Diversity-focused hiring initiatives have increased hiring of underrepresented groups by 30% over the last three years
The percentage of media projects featuring minority creators increased from 22% in 2019 to 33% in 2023
85% of media companies report that diversity positively influences brand reputation
58% of media workers feel that their workplace is not inclusive for non-binary staff
48% of media companies have a dedicated multicultural content division
In a 2023 survey, 55% of media employees felt their workplace lacked sufficient support for minority issues
Diversity training completion rates among media staff are at 70%, with higher retention of diverse staff
Media industry professionals report that inclusive language in scripts increased by 28% between 2020 and 2023
Only 19% of media internships are targeted at minority students, indicating a lack of accessibility
The share of media executives who advocate for equitable pay rose to 75% in 2023, up from 60% in 2021
The number of media brands recognized for DEI practices has doubled over the past three years, from 25% to 50%
Around 54% of media professionals believe their organization is making meaningful progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While nearly half of media workers see progress in DEI initiatives, the persistent underrepresentation and discrimination—highlighted by Black journalists making up only 6% of newsroom staff and women earning 27% less than men—underscore that true inclusion remains a story still waiting to be fully written.