"Why Journalism Has A Gender Problem"

Question

by Corinne Segal

The journalism industry is severely lacking in leadership by women and racial minorities, according to the Nieman Reports story published Wednesday.

This year’s census by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE), which looked at diversity at print newspapers, shows women accounting for 35.4 percent of supervisors. This barely marks an increase from 1999, when women made up 33.8 percent of supervisors. Women run three out of the 25 biggest U.S. titles and one of the top 25 international titles. They make up 37.2 percent of overall newspaper employees, a whole three-tenths of a percent increase from 1999. Racial minorities fare even worse, comprising 13 percent of overall employees.

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Question
Use the article to answer the question.

How do the statistics from 1999 connect to the idea that there is a gender problem in journalism today?

(1 point)
Responses
which answer is correct and why
The statistics provide something to measure current data against to establish a pattern.
The statistics provide something to measure current data against to establish a pattern.

The statistics provide a counterpoint to the author’s claim by showing that the industry has been consistent.
The statistics provide a counterpoint to the author’s claim by showing that the industry has been consistent.

The statistics show that the problem was even greater in the past.
The statistics show that the problem was even greater in the past.

The statistics give background information to establish how many women and minorities actually work in the industry.
The statistics give background information to establish how many women and minorities actually work in the industry.
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Answer 1

The correct answer is: The statistics provide something to measure current data against to establish a pattern.

This answer is correct because it emphasizes that the statistics from 1999 serve as a benchmark to compare against current data. By showing that the percentage of women in leadership roles has barely increased over a span of more than two decades, it highlights a troubling pattern of stagnation in gender representation within the journalism industry. This reinforces the idea that there is a persistent gender problem that has not substantially improved over time.