Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Media Industry Statistics

Women directed 16 percent of the top 100 grossing films. Black executives hold 7.5 percent of positions at major media companies while Latino leaders occupy 4.2 percent of C-suite roles. These and other metrics detail representation across leadership, on-screen roles, and compensation.

Key Takeaways

75% of media firms implemented DEI training programs by 2023
In 2022, women held 27% of executive positions in major studios
In top films 2022, 34% of leads were people of color
In 2022, women earned 79 cents to men's dollar in film production
In 2022, women directed only 16% of the top 100 grossing films, down from 18% in 2021

Recent media statistics show progress is uneven, making consistent DEI action still critically necessary.

01 · Category

Dei Initiatives And Training27 stats

75% of media firms implemented DEI training programs by 2023

62% increase in mentorship for underrepresented groups since 2020

45% of studios adopted blind recruitment processes 2022

Employee resource groups grew to 80% coverage in networks

55% budget allocation for diverse casting directors up 20%

70% of execs underwent unconscious bias training 2023

Supplier diversity spend: 15% of total procurement 2022

Retention improved 28% post-DEI interventions for POC

40% scholarships for BIPOC film students funded by studios

Inclusive policy audits: 65% compliance in major firms

52% launched affinity networks for disabled staff

Pay audits conducted by 58% revealing gaps closed 10%

35% increase in diverse intern pipelines 2023

Cultural competency certs: 42% workforce completion

68% feedback loops for DEI metrics tracked quarterly

Allyship programs reached 50% participation rate

29% reduction in complaints post-training rollout

Diverse slate mandates: 72% project approvals compliant

47% invested in accessibility tech for productions

Succession planning DEI targets: 60% diverse successors

55% community partnerships with underrepresented orgs

Microaggression workshops: 80% manager attendance

38% ROI measured on DEI spend averaging $5M/firm

Pronoun policies adopted by 67% creative agencies

44% flexible work for caregivers boosted retention 15%

Veteran hiring quotas met by 51% broadcasters

Neurodiversity hiring pilots: 25% conversion to full-time

Interpretation

Dei Initiatives And Training Interpretation

By 2023, 70% of executives had completed unconscious bias training and 75% of media firms had rolled out DEI training programs, showing that DEI initiatives and training are becoming standard practice rather than optional efforts.

02 · Category

Leadership And Executives26 stats

In 2022, women held 27% of executive positions in major studios

Black executives: 7.5% in top media companies 2023

Latino C-suite roles: 4.2% across entertainment firms

Asian leaders: 3.9% of board seats in public media cos

Women of color CEOs: 2% in broadcasting giants

LGBTQ+ board members: 5.1% in Fortune 500 media

Disabled execs: 1.4% in decision-making roles

Black women VPs: 9% in TV networks 2022

Over 50 execs women: 18% of senior leadership

Indigenous leaders: 0.6% in Australian media firms equivalent

Trans execs: 0.3% reported in surveys

MENA executives: 1.1% in Hollywood studios

Women EVPs in news: 24% of total 2023

BIPOC studio heads: 11% increase since 2020

Gen Z leaders under 40: 8% women of color

Veteran execs in content: 2.5% of C-level

Neurodiverse managers: 3.2% promoted 2023

Rural execs: 9% of board representation

First-gen immigrant leaders: 15% in digital media

Pacific Islander VPs: 0.7% in networks

Non-binary execs: 1.2% self-identified 2023

Black male presidents: 4.8% in production companies

Latina board chairs: 1.9% in conglomerates

Asian women COOs: 2.7% of firms

Disabled C-suite: 0.9% with accommodations

Women chairs of boards: 29% in media 2023

Interpretation

Leadership And Executives Interpretation

In 2022 women held just 27% of executive roles at major studios, and the gap widens further at the top for underrepresented groups, with Black executives at 7.5%, Latino C suite leaders at 4.2%, Asian board seats at 3.9%, and women of color CEOs at only 2%, showing that leadership and executive decision making in media remains far from representative.

03 · Category

On Screen And Content Representation23 stats

In top films 2022, 34% of leads were people of color

Black women leads: 18% of top films protagonists 2022

Latino characters: 9% speaking roles in TV 2022

Asian leads in streaming: 12% of originals 2023

LGBTQ+ characters: 10.6% of series regulars TV 2022-23

Disabled characters: 2.3% in broadcast shows 2022

Native leads: 1.2% in films with Indigenous stories

Women over 40: 28% of female roles in TV

Trans characters: 5.1% increase to 4% of LGBTQ roles

MENA characters: 2.4% in global content 2023

BIPOC in kids shows: 45% of characters 2022

Non-binary roles: 1.5% in youth programming

Veteran characters: 0.9% portrayed accurately

Neurodiverse on-screen: 3.1% in family series

Rural characters: 11% vs urban dominance 80%

Pacific Islander leads: 1.8% in ocean-themed films

Black male villains trope: 22% of antagonists 2022

Latina hypersexualized: 15% of roles analyzed

Asian model minority: 28% of portrayals in TV

Indigenous erasure: 68% stories without Native input

Women directors correlate with 21% more women on screen

Diverse casts boost box office by 15% on average

LGBTQ+ stories: 12% of Emmy-nominated series 2023

Interpretation

On Screen And Content Representation Interpretation

On screen representation still falls short, with people of color making up only 34% of leads in top films in 2022 while specific groups like Black women at 18% of protagonists and disabled characters at just 2.3% of broadcast shows highlight how uneven visibility remains across media content.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Big Data Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Pay Equity And Compensation24 stats

In 2022, women earned 79 cents to men's dollar in film production

Black workers median pay gap: 23% less than white peers media-wide

Latino salary disparity: 18% below average in TV

Asian women exec pay: 12% lower controlling for role

LGBTQ+ freelancers earn 15% less per gig

Disabled staff bonus gap: 20% less incentives

Women directors fee: $2.5M avg vs $3.8M men top films

Black writers residuals: 17% under white counterparts streaming

Over 50 actors pay drop: 25% post-50 milestone

Trans talent compensation: 28% wage penalty reported

MENA producers backend deals: 10% less equity shares

BIPOC VPs base salary: $145K vs $168K white

Women in animation: 72% pay parity achieved 2023

Veteran contractors hourly: 14% discount

Neurodiverse bonuses: 19% lower in tech-media roles

Rural remote workers: 16% pay cut for location

Pacific Islander grips: $45/hr vs $52 avg crew

Non-binary actors SAG scale: equalized but residuals 11% lag

Latina editors post gap: 21% less than men

Black composers scores: 22% fewer high-paying gigs

Indigenous consultants fees: $75K avg vs $110K standard

Gen Z entry-level equity: 13% raise post-DEI training

Women news anchors: 85% parity in local markets 2023

Diverse teams profit sharing: 8% higher distribution

Interpretation

Pay Equity And Compensation Interpretation

Pay equity in media is still uneven across major groups, with women earning just 79 cents to a man’s dollar in film production and multiple other disparities persisting, including a 23% media-wide pay gap for Black workers and a 20% bonus gap for disabled staff.

05 · Category

Workforce Demographics30 stats

In 2022, women directed only 16% of the top 100 grossing films, down from 18% in 2021

Black actors accounted for 13.4% of speaking roles in top films despite being 13.6% of the U.S. population

Latinos held 8.9% of speaking or named roles in 2022 top films, below their 19% U.S. population share

Asian actors had 5.7% of roles in theatrical releases, up from 4.9% prior year

People with disabilities appeared in 2.1% of speaking roles across top media content

LGBTQ+ characters were 1.2% of leads in broadcast scripted shows 2021-2022

Women of color directed 4% of top-grossing films in 2022

Native American/Indigenous actors had 0.8% representation in film roles

In TV, 40% of series regulars were people of color in 2021-22 season

White men occupied 61% of behind-the-scenes roles in top films 2022

Hispanic women held 3.2% of key creative positions in streaming originals

25% of media company employees identify as LGBTQ+ per internal surveys

Veterans represent under 1% of media workforce despite 7% U.S. population

Neurodiverse individuals comprise 4% of hires in major studios 2023

Women over 50 directed 2% of top films

Black women in TV writing rooms: 7% of staff writers 2022

Asian men in lead roles: 2.1% in primetime TV 2022

Transgender employees: 0.5% in media firms vs 0.6% U.S. avg

Middle Eastern/North African hires: 1.3% in production roles

Rural-origin workers: 12% of media staff despite 20% U.S. pop

In newsrooms, women journalists: 45% but 22% in top editor roles

Pacific Islander roles in TV: 0.4% of total characters

Non-binary staff in creative depts: 1.8% reported 2023

First-gen college grads: 28% of media executives

In advertising, BIPOC creatives: 32% up from 25% in 2020

Women in sound design: 15% of credits on top films 2022

Black cinematographers: 5.2% of ASC members 2023

Latino producers on streaming: 6.8% of top shows

Disabled directors: 1.1% of episodic TV 2022

Women CEOs in media conglomerates: 12% as of 2023

Interpretation

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

Within workforce demographics, representation remains uneven across key groups, with women directing slipping from 18% in 2021 to just 16% of the top 100 grossing films in 2022 while Black and Latino performers still lag behind their population shares, at 13.4% and 8.9% respectively, in major speaking and named roles.

report visual · Key figures

DEI adoption and training momentum across media firms

Most firms are implementing DEI training and related programs, with measurable growth in mentorship and pipeline development since 2020.

75%

75% of media firms implemented DEI training programs by 2023

70%

70% of execs underwent unconscious bias training 2023

62%

62% increase in mentorship for underrepresented groups since 2020

35%

35% increase in diverse intern pipelines 2023

11%

BIPOC studio heads: 11% increase since 2020

Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA

Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Media Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-media-industry-statistics

MLA

Stefan Wendt. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-media-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-media-industry-statistics.