Documents
Demographic Survey
Dec. 14, 2020
2020 Demographic Survey 1
THE INTERCEPT’S
2020 ANNUAL
STAFF DEMOGRAPHIC
SURVEY
Following extensive discussions about diversity and
inclusion in our newsroom, The Intercept decided
to conduct a comprehensive demographic survey of
our staff.
The survey, which consisted of 16 questions sent
to all 53 full-time U.S. employees, was conducted in
March 2020 and will be repeated annually. Voluntary
and anonymous, the survey was completed by 98
percent of newsroom employees.*
Having an understanding of our staff’s demographic
profile is key as we seek to further diversify our
newsroom, and the annual survey will help provide
a benchmark for ongoing diversity initiatives at
The Intercept. According to the survey results, 58
percent of our staff identify as white and 34 percent
identify as people of color, with the remainder
declining to self-identify. Our long-term goal is to
increase the percentage of people of color in the
newsroom to 50 percent. We also want to increase
the number of staff members who come from diverse
socioeconomic backgrounds.
To achieve those goals, we have launched a broad effort
to encourage diverse candidates to apply for open
positions. Internally, we’ve recently made a number of
changes and commitments, including incorporating
diversity work in job descriptions of current staff;
ensuring that employees have a clear path to career
advancement within The Intercept; and considering
an employee’s contributions to diversity efforts in
performance reviews.
This survey also offers a snapshot of the demographic
differences between members of The Intercept
Union and non-union employees, which include both
management and non-management staff. At the time
of this survey, a total of 21 staffers were non-union
Intercept employees, including all of The Intercept’s
managers and two non-managers.
In 2018, as part of The Intercept’s collective bargaining
agreement with the union representing our employees,
Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), The Intercept
adopted practices referred to as the “double Rooney
Rule,” requiring that at least two candidates from
underrepresented groups — including women, people
of color, and those identifying as LGBTQ+ —
be interviewed for all open positions. The demographic
survey and the creation of a committee tasked with
discussing diversity and inclusion efforts were also
products of the union agreement. Members of our
newsroom have attended conferences such as
NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists),
NAJA (Native American Journalists Association),
and NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists)
with the goal of raising our visibility among journalists
of color. In the wake of these and other efforts,
roughly half of the open positions at The Intercept since
2018 have been filled by people of color.
Nonetheless, The Intercept recognizes it must do more
to address systemic inequalities outside and inside
the newsroom. In light of the global protests following
the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the
conversation around equity and representation in the
newsroom has become even more urgent. In order to
meet our goal of building a newsroom that is 50 percent
people of color, with a special emphasis on increasing
Black representation on staff, we need to go above and
beyond our past efforts and make diversifying our
newsroom a core commitment we pursue with the
same vigor and determination that we bring to our
mission-driven journalism.
THE 2020 ANNUAL SURVEY
The responses to our annual anonymous survey
are being presented as percentages in three
categories: union members, non-union employees,
and total staff. All questions offered the option
“prefer not to say.” Some questions also allowed
responders to fill in individual answers; these answers
will not be made public in order to protect the
anonymity of responders.
* We may have received a duplicate submission so
there is a small margin of error.
2020 Demographic Survey 1
THE INTERCEPT’S
2020 ANNUAL
STAFF DEMOGRAPHIC
SURVEY
Following extensive discussions about diversity and
inclusion in our newsroom, The Intercept decided
to conduct a comprehensive demographic survey of
our staff.
The survey, which consisted of 16 questions sent
to all 53 full-time U.S. employees, was conducted in
March 2020 and will be repeated annually. Voluntary
and anonymous, the survey was completed by 98
percent of newsroom employees.*
Having an understanding of our staff’s demographic
profile is key as we seek to further diversify our
newsroom, and the annual survey will help provide
a benchmark for ongoing diversity initiatives at
The Intercept. According to the survey results, 58
percent of our staff identify as white and 34 percent
identify as people of color, with the remainder
declining to self-identify. Our long-term goal is to
increase the percentage of people of color in the
newsroom to 50 percent. We also want to increase
the number of staff members who come from diverse
socioeconomic backgrounds.
To achieve those goals, we have launched a broad effort
to encourage diverse candidates to apply for open
positions. Internally, we’ve recently made a number of
changes and commitments, including incorporating
diversity work in job descriptions of current staff;
ensuring that employees have a clear path to career
advancement within The Intercept; and considering
an employee’s contributions to diversity efforts in
performance reviews.
This survey also offers a snapshot of the demographic
differences between members of The Intercept
Union and non-union employees, which include both
management and non-management staff. At the time
of this survey, a total of 21 staffers were non-union
Intercept employees, including all of The Intercept’s
managers and two non-managers.
In 2018, as part of The Intercept’s collective bargaining
agreement with the union representing our employees,
Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), The Intercept
adopted practices referred to as the “double Rooney
Rule,” requiring that at least two candidates from
underrepresented groups — including women, people
of color, and those identifying as LGBTQ+ —
be interviewed for all open positions. The demographic
survey and the creation of a committee tasked with
discussing diversity and inclusion efforts were also
products of the union agreement. Members of our
newsroom have attended conferences such as
NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists),
NAJA (Native American Journalists Association),
and NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists)
with the goal of raising our visibility among journalists
of color. In the wake of these and other efforts,
roughly half of the open positions at The Intercept since
2018 have been filled by people of color.
Nonetheless, The Intercept recognizes it must do more
to address systemic inequalities outside and inside
the newsroom. In light of the global protests following
the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the
conversation around equity and representation in the
newsroom has become even more urgent. In order to
meet our goal of building a newsroom that is 50 percent
people of color, with a special emphasis on increasing
Black representation on staff, we need to go above and
beyond our past efforts and make diversifying our
newsroom a core commitment we pursue with the
same vigor and determination that we bring to our
mission-driven journalism.
THE 2020 ANNUAL SURVEY
The responses to our annual anonymous survey
are being presented as percentages in three
categories: union members, non-union employees,
and total staff. All questions offered the option
“prefer not to say.” Some questions also allowed
responders to fill in individual answers; these answers
will not be made public in order to protect the
anonymity of responders.
* We may have received a duplicate submission so
there is a small margin of error.
2020 Demographic Survey 2
GENDER
Union Non-Union
Total
51.6% 28.6%
45.2% 61.9%
96.8%
3.2% 4.8%
4.8%
3.2% 9.5%
0%
0%
Female 41.5%
Male 50.9%
Not trans 92.5%
Nonbinary 3.8%
Prefer not to say 3.8%
Prefer not to say 7.6%
Trans
Female
Male
Not trans
Nonbinary
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Trans
0%
0%
90.5%
Of all staffers, 41% are female, and women are a slight majority (51.60%) among
members of The Intercept Union. Overall, 3.8% of The Intercept staff identifies
as nonbinary, and another 3.8% of our newsroom chose to not answer this question.
At the time the survey was completed, no one at The Intercept identified as
transgender, and 7.60% of the newsroom chose to not answer the question.
2020 Demographic Survey 2
GENDER
Union Non-Union
Total
51.6% 28.6%
45.2% 61.9%
96.8%
3.2% 4.8%
4.8%
3.2% 9.5%
0%
0%
Female 41.5%
Male 50.9%
Not trans 92.5%
Nonbinary 3.8%
Prefer not to say 3.8%
Prefer not to say 7.6%
Trans
Female
Male
Not trans
Nonbinary
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Trans
0%
0%
90.5%
Of all staffers, 41% are female, and women are a slight majority (51.60%) among
members of The Intercept Union. Overall, 3.8% of The Intercept staff identifies
as nonbinary, and another 3.8% of our newsroom chose to not answer this question.
At the time the survey was completed, no one at The Intercept identified as
transgender, and 7.60% of the newsroom chose to not answer the question.
2020 Demographic Survey 3
AGE
Union Non-Union
Total
20-29
20-29
30-39
30-39
40-49
40-49
50+
50+
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
20.8%
35.9%
26.4%
9.4%
7.6%
32.3% 4.8%
23.8%
47.6%
9.5%
14.3%
45.2%
12.9%
9.7%
0%
Most Intercept employees (36%) are in the 30-to-39 age range, and 27%
of our employees are in the next age bracket: from 40 to 49 years old.
A total of 7.60% of our staff chose to not answer this question.
2020 Demographic Survey 3
AGE
Union Non-Union
Total
20-29
20-29
30-39
30-39
40-49
40-49
50+
50+
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
20.8%
35.9%
26.4%
9.4%
7.6%
32.3% 4.8%
23.8%
47.6%
9.5%
14.3%
45.2%
12.9%
9.7%
0%
Most Intercept employees (36%) are in the 30-to-39 age range, and 27%
of our employees are in the next age bracket: from 40 to 49 years old.
A total of 7.60% of our staff chose to not answer this question.
2020 Demographic Survey 4
RACE AND ETHNICITY
Union Non-Union
Total
Black/
African American
Black/
African American
East Asian
East Asian
Two or more
Two or more
Latino/a/x
Latino/a/x
South Asian
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Middle Eastern/
N African
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Other (fill in)
Other (fill in)
White
White
1.9%
3.2% 0%
0%
9.5%
4.8%
4.8%
4.8%
0%
14.3%
61.9%
6.5%
6.5%
6.5%
16.1%
0%
0%
58.1%
3.2%
3.8%
5.7%
5.7%
5.7%
11.3%
7.6%
0%
58.5%
The chart below represents the racial and ethnic breakdown of all
Intercept staffers. No one at The Intercept identifies as Native American
or as Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
2020 Demographic Survey 4
RACE AND ETHNICITY
Union Non-Union
Total
Black/
African American
Black/
African American
East Asian
East Asian
Two or more
Two or more
Latino/a/x
Latino/a/x
South Asian
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Middle Eastern/
N African
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Other (fill in)
Other (fill in)
White
White
1.9%
3.2% 0%
0%
9.5%
4.8%
4.8%
4.8%
0%
14.3%
61.9%
6.5%
6.5%
6.5%
16.1%
0%
0%
58.1%
3.2%
3.8%
5.7%
5.7%
5.7%
11.3%
7.6%
0%
58.5%
The chart below represents the racial and ethnic breakdown of all
Intercept staffers. No one at The Intercept identifies as Native American
or as Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
2020 Demographic Survey 5
RACE AND ETHNICITY(CONTINUED)
Union Non-Union
Total
Black/
African American
East Asian
Prefer not to say
Latino/a/x
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Not Applicable (N/A)
Other (fill in)
White
Black/
African American
East Asian
Prefer not to say
Latino/a/x
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Not Applicable (N/A)
Other (fill in)
White
1.9%
3.2%
3.2%
0%
6.5%
6.5%
12.9%
0%
1.9%
83.9%
1.9%
1.9%
3.8%
3.8%
3.8%
1.9%
9.4%
84.9%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
4.8%
4.8%
4.8%
90.5%
The chart below features data on 11.30% of the staff who answered the race
and ethnicity question with “two or more.” Those who did not choose that
specific answer were asked to answer this question with “not applicable.”
2020 Demographic Survey 5
RACE AND ETHNICITY(CONTINUED)
Union Non-Union
Total
Black/
African American
East Asian
Prefer not to say
Latino/a/x
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Not Applicable (N/A)
Other (fill in)
White
Black/
African American
East Asian
Prefer not to say
Latino/a/x
South Asian
Middle Eastern/
N African
Not Applicable (N/A)
Other (fill in)
White
1.9%
3.2%
3.2%
0%
6.5%
6.5%
12.9%
0%
1.9%
83.9%
1.9%
1.9%
3.8%
3.8%
3.8%
1.9%
9.4%
84.9%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
4.8%
4.8%
4.8%
90.5%
The chart below features data on 11.30% of the staff who answered the race
and ethnicity question with “two or more.” Those who did not choose that
specific answer were asked to answer this question with “not applicable.”
2020 Demographic Survey 6
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Union Non-Union
Total
Heterosexual
LGBPQA
Prefer not to say
Heterosexual
LGBPQA
Prefer not to say
11.3%
75.5%
13.2%
12.9%
80.7%
6.5%
9.5%
19.1%
71.4%
A total of 11.30% of The Intercept staff identities as LGBPQA (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Queer, or Asexual).
2020 Demographic Survey 6
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Union Non-Union
Total
Heterosexual
LGBPQA
Prefer not to say
Heterosexual
LGBPQA
Prefer not to say
11.3%
75.5%
13.2%
12.9%
80.7%
6.5%
9.5%
19.1%
71.4%
A total of 11.30% of The Intercept staff identities as LGBPQA (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Queer, or Asexual).
2020 Demographic Survey 7
EDUCATION
Union Non-Union
Total
No college
Public high school
Private high school
Prefer not to say
Public associate’s
or some college
Public bachelor’s
Private bachelor’s
Prefer not to say
No college
Public high school
Private high school
Prefer not to say
Public associate’s
or some college
Public bachelor’s
Private bachelor’s
Prefer not to say
54.7%
35.9%
9.4%
9.4%
1.9%
7.6%
58.1% 52.4%
38.1%
9.5%
14.3%
19.1%
0%
9.5%
57.1%
35.5%
6.5%
6.5%
3.2%
3.2%
38.7%
48.4%
30.2%
50.9%
A majority of The Intercept staff attended public high schools (54.7%), and
about half obtained their bachelor’s degrees at private institutions (50.9%).
2020 Demographic Survey 7
EDUCATION
Union Non-Union
Total
No college
Public high school
Private high school
Prefer not to say
Public associate’s
or some college
Public bachelor’s
Private bachelor’s
Prefer not to say
No college
Public high school
Private high school
Prefer not to say
Public associate’s
or some college
Public bachelor’s
Private bachelor’s
Prefer not to say
54.7%
35.9%
9.4%
9.4%
1.9%
7.6%
58.1% 52.4%
38.1%
9.5%
14.3%
19.1%
0%
9.5%
57.1%
35.5%
6.5%
6.5%
3.2%
3.2%
38.7%
48.4%
30.2%
50.9%
A majority of The Intercept staff attended public high schools (54.7%), and
about half obtained their bachelor’s degrees at private institutions (50.9%).
2020 Demographic Survey 8
Public doctorate
Public doctorate
Public master’s
Public master’s
Private doctorate
Private doctorate
No advanced degree
No advanced degree
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
First-generation
college
First-generation
college
Not first generation
Not first generation
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
N/A
N/A
Private master’s
Private master’s
EDUCATION (CONTINUED)
Union Non-Union
Total
9.4%
1.9%
1.9%
7.6%
13.2%
3.8%
3.8%
6.5% 14.3%
28.6%
9.5%
19.1%
76.2%
47.6%
3.2% 0%
0%
0%
4.8%
3.2%
3.2%
9.7%
3.2%
3.2%
83.9%
29%
54.8%
79.3%
28.3%
50.9%
Among employees, 28.3% have master’s degrees, and 13.2% were
first-generation college students.
2020 Demographic Survey 8
Public doctorate
Public doctorate
Public master’s
Public master’s
Private doctorate
Private doctorate
No advanced degree
No advanced degree
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
First-generation
college
First-generation
college
Not first generation
Not first generation
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
N/A
N/A
Private master’s
Private master’s
EDUCATION (CONTINUED)
Union Non-Union
Total
9.4%
1.9%
1.9%
7.6%
13.2%
3.8%
3.8%
6.5% 14.3%
28.6%
9.5%
19.1%
76.2%
47.6%
3.2% 0%
0%
0%
4.8%
3.2%
3.2%
9.7%
3.2%
3.2%
83.9%
29%
54.8%
79.3%
28.3%
50.9%
Among employees, 28.3% have master’s degrees, and 13.2% were
first-generation college students.
2020 Demographic Survey 9
22.6%
16.1% 33.3%
19.1%
4.8%
4.8%
61.9%
76.2%
32.3%
67.7%
0%
0%
26.4%
3.8%
3.8%
73.6%
69.8%
IMMIGRATION
Union Non-Union
Total
Immigrant
Immigrant
Non-immigrant
Non-immigrant
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Parents are
immigrants
Parents are
immigrants
Parents are not
immigrants
Parents are not
immigrants
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
A total of 22.64% of our staff are first-generation immigrants,
and 26.43% have parents who are immigrants.
83.9%
2020 Demographic Survey 9
22.6%
16.1% 33.3%
19.1%
4.8%
4.8%
61.9%
76.2%
32.3%
67.7%
0%
0%
26.4%
3.8%
3.8%
73.6%
69.8%
IMMIGRATION
Union Non-Union
Total
Immigrant
Immigrant
Non-immigrant
Non-immigrant
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
Parents are
immigrants
Parents are
immigrants
Parents are not
immigrants
Parents are not
immigrants
Prefer not to say
Prefer not to say
A total of 22.64% of our staff are first-generation immigrants,
and 26.43% have parents who are immigrants.
83.9%
2020 Demographic Survey 10
MORE
• 35.85% of full-time Intercept employees have worked at First Look Media,
The Intercept’s parent company, between three and four years, and
24.53% of our staff have been with the company for more than five years.
16.98% have been with the company between one and two years, and
another 15.09% of our staffers have been Intercept employees for less
than one year; 7.55% chose to not answer this question.
• Among employees, 5.66% identify as having a disability, while another
5.66% chose to not answer this question.
• A third of Intercept employees (33.96%) have worked in journalism
between one and five years, while 26.42% have between six and 10 years
of experience in newsrooms. Another 16.98% of our newsroom have
worked in journalism between 11 and 20 years; 18.87% have more than
21 years of experience; and 3.77% of our staff have one year or less
of experience.
2020 Demographic Survey 10
MORE
• 35.85% of full-time Intercept employees have worked at First Look Media,
The Intercept’s parent company, between three and four years, and
24.53% of our staff have been with the company for more than five years.
16.98% have been with the company between one and two years, and
another 15.09% of our staffers have been Intercept employees for less
than one year; 7.55% chose to not answer this question.
• Among employees, 5.66% identify as having a disability, while another
5.66% chose to not answer this question.
• A third of Intercept employees (33.96%) have worked in journalism
between one and five years, while 26.42% have between six and 10 years
of experience in newsrooms. Another 16.98% of our newsroom have
worked in journalism between 11 and 20 years; 18.87% have more than
21 years of experience; and 3.77% of our staff have one year or less
of experience.