Can a Regulator Change Representation of Minority Groups and Fair Reflection of Cultural Diversity in National Media Programs? Lessons From Israel

Abstract

Studies show that coverage of minority and marginal groups in the central-national media is problematic. As a result, in the last decade, regulators—mainly in Europe—encouraged more proper media representation of minority groups and fair reflection of the cultural diversity. Analyzing the Israeli case study, this article examines whether the Israeli regulator succeeded in effecting changes in the representation of minority groups in Israel's national-commercial media, and the characteristics of these changes.

Notes

We would like to thank the Second Authority for Television & Radio, which initiated, funded and published both studies and especially express our appreciation to Noa Elefant-Loffler, Director of Research and Development, for her assistance.

Note: *Numbers of characters and (items/episodes/programs) analyzed.

Note: *The percentages represented here are the percentage of the characters' appearance within each social rift: Jewish-Arab, male-female, veteran-immigrant, religious-secular, and Ashkenazi-Mizrachi. The sum of the percentages was not always 100% because the researchers also counted in the analysis other groups not included here, such as the Druze and Circassians, and also because of the appearance of characters who were not clearly identifiable to the coders.

**Significant increase/decrease in the post-tender study according to a probability test p < .005.

Note: **Significant increase/decrease in the post-tender study according to a probability test p < .005.

Note: **Significant increase/decrease in the post-tender study according to a probability test p < .005.