Nice coverage of a Media Matters study--an excellent media watchdog group respected on all sides of the political divide. Presents some reasons, though cryptic, on why/how minority voices enrich debate. Obviously, mere membership in a minority does not grant expert authority on anything, but it will often comprise a genuinely alternative and fresh angle of perception for cultural/class reasons, which is invaluable in an expert. But the difficult question here is, should networks seek out experts to interview based in part on their minority status? Doubtful.

The ethnic and sexual disparity is presented. The disparity in the selection of guests acording to political viewpoint is avoided. The tendancy of corporate media to require two virulent neocons on a show for every liberal, and requiring that the liberal be soft-spoken and look like a nerd, ... that feature is not mentioned. Even Fox could populate their shows with right wing idealogues who are black, female, hispanic, asian, or malaysian and still not have a vibrant political spectrum of the people of this country. The story is good, but not broad enough.