Examination of Media Diversity in the Era of Potential Diversity Loss

This study examines equal employment opportunity (EEO) statements in media companies’ job posts to assess the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices in the broadcast news industry and how the shifting political climate impacts these practices. As DEI has increasingly become a contested terrain in the current political landscape, understanding how media organizations communicate their equal opportunity commitments in their hiring practices has become more critical than ever. Drawing on Luhmann’s (Citation1995) theory of social systems, the study reveals a complex and nuanced picture of how media organizations navigate the intersection of institutional norms and external policy pressures in their hiring practices. Given that DEI has long been a central concern in journalism, this study offers practical implications for advancing DEI in the media industry.