A study combined and compared the results of five national mail surveys of commercial radio and television stations conducted at intervals from 1976 to 1986 by the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) to see how minority groups have fared in the news work force. Results indicated that in the 10 years studied, the minority share of the broadcast news work force decreased slightly, mainly through attrition by minority men, notably Black men. Members of minority groups have made little progress in moving into the management of news operations--while gaining slightly in radio news, they decreased in TV news. When minority news directors were found in television, they were not heading major network affiliates, but rather small-staffed independent stations. Findings also showed that not only have male members of minorities failed to increase their share of the broadcast news work force in recent years, but that their share has eroded. While women have impressively strengthened their presence in radio and TV newsrooms--their share is now just under a third of the work force--Blacks and other minorities have been exiting more often than entering. For Black women, the growth in female percentages has tended to offset the minority decline, leaving their numbers about where they were 10 years earlier. While the electronic media showed a better record than print media, Blacks (and Hispanics) remained underrepresented in broadcast news and the professions in general, especially in comparison with their population share, and in management positions in particular. (Tables of data and 19 notes are included.) (NKA)