Prompted by a report of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), which noted a correlation between regional minority population and newsroom employment, a study investigated the hiring patterns of 24 small and medium-sized California dailies. California was chosen because it has one of the highest non-white populations in the nation (about 25% of the state's 26 million). Newspaper editors, publishers, and personnel officers were asked about the number and percentages of non-whites working in professional news gathering, editing, or management positions. The data indicated the percentage of non-whites holding professional positions on medium-sized and small dailies in California is considerably higher than the national average of 5.6 %. For six of the medium-sized papers, the percentage was 12%. However, for 18 small newspapers, the percentage was 4.9%. For both groups, the average was 8.4%. For metropolitan dailies in the state, the figure was 12.7%. The statewide average, including small, medium, and metropolitan dailies, was 9.8%, still higher than the national figure. (Tables of data are included.) (HOD)