'Impossible' to Improve Diversity Without EEO Data, Says UCC's Leanza
It's “impossible” for the FCC to improve diversity in broadcasting without measuring it through equal employment opportunity data, said United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry Policy Adviser Cheryl Leanza in an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 98-204.…
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“Without data, neither broadcasters nor the FCC nor the public can know whether broadcasters and the Commission have achieved their goal of improving employment diversity.” Comcast and Disney, which own broadcast stations, already voluntarily release EEO data, and common carriers are required to publicly submit EEO data to the FCC, Leanza said. FCC release of employment data “would allow the court of public opinion to render its judgment," Leanza said. That is judgment that NAB "clearly seeks to avoid by suppressing its members’ employment data,” she said.