Is U.S. Racist? Survey Finds Media Tend to Suggest ‘Yes’ : Bias: Crime was the leading topic of race-related stories, followed by elections.

A survey of 204 stories about race relations that were aired on the three major networks in 1989 shows that one out of three sources interviewed said America is racist.

The survey, conducted by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, also scrutinized another 114 stories on race printed in Time, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report.

The TV survey included 73 stories on NBC (totaling 2 hours and 17 minutes), 69 on ABC (2:08) and 62 on CBS (1:59).

Across the media, charges of racism were most often leveled against business and the economic sector but the justice system, schools, sports, government and religion were also frequently charged with bias. Charges of discrimination outnumbered denials by more than 8 to 1.

Among all sources, a majority (54%) said racism is increasing, 19% said it is in decline and 27% see no change.

On TV, opinions on race relations were split just about even between blacks (35%) and whites (33%) among sources that could be identified. Sources endorsed affirmative action programs by more than 2 to 1 (68% to 32%).

The Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared most often, while the NAACP was heard from more than three times as often as any other single organization.

Crime was the leading topic of race-related stories, followed by elections, white supremacists, civil rights history, education and busing, affirmative action, race and culture (movies such as “Do The Right Thing,” “Harlem Nights” and “Mississippi Burning”), minority group relations, economy and jobs and political organizing.

Statements were offered most often by representatives of city governments, followed by federal officials, educators, scholars or think tank spokespersons, civil rights organizations and entertainers.