The television industry has been put on notice. After decades of modest progress in minority representation, the networks have actually been backsliding in recent years. This is the reality of market-driven television. As long as the world's dominant communications medium exists only to sell commercial time, the public will be divided into market segments and the information we are fed will be defined by our spending habits. Activists must not settle for a mere increase in the number of minorities appearing on television.
Networks have a responsibility to make qualitative as well as quantitative progress.
According to People for Better TV , a disproportionate number of minorities on commercial television's news and entertainment shows are portrayed as criminals and victims. Very few are depicted as productive citizens or are cited as credible sources. There is one place on Chicago television where the public is defined as members of a community, rather than as points in a ratings chart. CAN TV's hundreds of volunteer producers include many ethnic and cultural minorities, women, immigrants and people with disabilities. They don't have to worry about appealing to corporate executives for adequate representation.