Only 1.38% of Fox News Viewers are Black

So besides the few times I’ve glanced at the unchangable monitors in the doctors office, or at the gym, I can honestly say I very rarely watch Fox news under my own control. Well, I guess I’m not the only one.  According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News has averaged just 29,000 black viewers in primetime so far this television season (9/09-7/10). It’s probably safe to say a majority of those  29k are those just like me forced to watch it, or the family members of Fox’s limited  African-American reporting staff.

That 29,000 represents just 1.38% of its 2.102 million total viewer audience.CNN and MSNBC, meanwhile, both have far more black viewers, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of their overall audiences with about 20% of their total viewers being black.

Fox’s coverage of race hasn’t done anything to attract an African-American audience. Their “long history of aggressive race-baiting and racially charged commentary” has perhaps alienated many of their viewers. As Stelter reported in his article, “The National Association of Black Journalists has faulted Fox for years for inaccurately portraying blacks.” The group recently condemned the channel for their “lack of due diligence” on the Shirley Sherrod story. The group’s criticism came on the heels of Fox News contributor slamming Fox host Megyn Kelly being slammed on air for “doing the ’scary black man thing’” with her coverage of the New Black Panthers Party faux scandal. (ThinkProgress)