Asian Americans are getting more roles

The Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition annually issues a report card on how networks are representing minorities.

Last year it offered a damning report, with all networks criticised for their lack of diversity.

This year ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox all received A grades for their commitment to achieving racial diversity.

Various pressure groups signed up to the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition gave their verdicts on how they perceived minority races to be represented.

This year, Fox came out on top for its new Latino-based sitcom Luis and the forthcoming comedy The Ortegas.

It scored a B-plus for its overall progression towards multi-ethnic diversity for all cultures, and an A for its portrayal of Latinos, who make up 14% of the US population.

Demographics

"This has been a good reporting period for Latinos", said Esteban Torres, chair of both the Latino Council and the Multi-ethnic Media Coalition.

"Network numbers are finally reflecting the importance of our community in terms of our demographics."

CBS, which was singled out for criticism last year for its perceived poor record on racial diversity, went from a grade D- to a C+ in the Hispanic report.

But the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition gave a less positive view of the inclusion of Asian Pacifics actors.

Although its head Karen Narasaki, praised the four networks with a "continuing commitment to trying to open up opportunities for minorities" she said progress for Asian Pacific people had been slow.

"With the exception of NBC, the major networks have made almost no progress in providing greater opportunities for Asian Pacific American actors," she said.

The problem of Asian and native Americans are that we're seen perpetually as foreigners Karen Narasaki

NBC has two Asian Pacific actors in leading or regular roles - Jodi Long on Miss Match and Lindsay Price on Coupling.

The American Indians in Film & Television did not issue its own gradings, saying it did not want to ruin efforts to expand opportunities, believing more Indians should be encouraged to enter television.

Share responsibility

"We have to share some of the responsibility," said chairman Apesanahkwat.

He added that it was important "to move beyond the perception that we are only a period people, festooned in feathers, buckskin and beads".

A separate report on progress made by African Americans in television is due next week by the coalition's partner, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

A number of the coalition leaders said the progress made by blacks in television had outpaced other groups.

Ms Narasaki said: "The problem of Asian and native Americans are that we're seen perpetually as foreigners."

She criticised the CBS drama Joan of Arcadia for being set in a Los Angeles suburb where there is a large Asian American population but not featuring any in the show.