Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Newspapers: Total, Minority, and Female Newsroom Workforce

Year Total newsroom workforce Minorities in workforce Women in workforce
1978 45,000 1,900
1979 47,000 2,300
1980 45,500 2,400
1981 49,000 2,700
1982 50,000 2,800
1983 50,400 2,900
1984 53,800 3,100
1985 54,000 3,400
1986 54,700 3,600
1987 55,300 3,900
1988 56,200 4,200
1989 56,900 4,500
1990 55,700 4,900
1991 54,500 5,100
1992 53,600 5,500
1993 53,700 5,600
1994 53,800 5,900
1995 55,000 6,100
1996 54,000 6,100
1997 54,700 6,300
1998 55,100 6,400 20,323
1999 56,200 6,700 20,876
2000 56,400 6,600 21,062
2001 54,400 6,600 20,161
2002 54,700 6,900 20,168
2003 54,200 7,000 20,177
2004 54,100 7,300 20,320
2005 53,600 7,400 20,217
2006 55,000 7,400 20,687
2007 52,600 7,100 19,651
2008 46,700 6,300 17,287
2009 41,500 5,500 15,180
2010 41,600 5,300 15,360
2011 40,600 5,000 14,971
2012 38,000 4,700 13,780
2013 36,700 4,900 13,657

Source: American Society of News Editors, Newsroom Employment Census, 2014

Note: ASNE labels its data according to the release date. Pew Research presents the data according to the year the data were compiled. Minorities include Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans.

Icon for promotion number 1

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings