75 Years of Broadcasting & Cable Magazine: An Examination of Women Featured in Broadcasting & Cable's “Fifth Estater” 1931–2006

Abstract

The men and women selected by the editors of Broadcasting & Cable (B&C) for recognition in the magazine's weekly column on leadership in the field, the “Fifth Estater,” were analyzed over a 75-year period (1931–2006). Using framing theory as a guide and content analysis as the methodology, profiled leaders and their demographic attributes were studied. Results revealed that only 7% of the featured leaders were women. Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations are made to increase opportunities for women to become leaders and reach decision-making status in the broadcasting and cable industries.

Notes

¹The Fourth Estate is a common expression regarding the press and is attributed to Edmund Burke (1729–1797), a British politician. Burke noted, “There were Three Estates in Parliament, but in the Reporters Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important by far than they all.” Quoted in Carlyle, T. (1841). Sol Taishoff, noting the power of broadcasting, declared it the Fifth Estate.

²The authors have taken caution to note the N for each set of data so that the reader is aware that the column's content did vary over the years and the content of each column varied.

³According to enrollment numbers reported by the census, Ivy League enrollment accounts for 1% of all college students in the United States. http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html.