Nielsen Task Force Ready to Boldly Go
July 8 2004
Four new members have this week been added to the TV measurement Task Force assessing Nielsen Media Research's representation of people of colour. Among the four - who arrive just in time for the Task Force's first meeting - is George Takei, alias Star Trek's Mr Sulu.
The Task Force is chaired by former US Representative Cardiss Collins. In addition to Mr Takei, who is chair of the board of governors of East West Players, the USA's foremost Asian Pacific American theatre, the new members are:
- Mario Baeza, chairman of the Baeza Group, a Latino-owned alternative investment firm, and TCW/Latin American Partners, a Latin-American Private Equity firm in partnership with Trust Company of the West.
- Daniel Villanueva, a longtime television executive who is now Managing Partner of Bastion Capital Corporation in Los Angeles.
- Karen Watson, Vice President of Government Relations for EchoStar Communications in Washington.
Rep. Collins commented 'The task force is composed of outstanding individuals who broadly represent the communications and entertainment industry, and I am confident they can help us determine whether Nielsen is fulfilling its commitment to fairly measure people of colour. The Nielsen ratings play a large role in what kinds of shows get produced and what percentage of the TV and advertising business goes into the African American and Latino communities. It is critical that these ratings are accurate'.
Susan D. Whiting, president and CEO of Nielsen Media Research, added, 'We are grateful that this impressive group of professionals is taking time out of their busy schedules this summer to make sure we at Nielsen are doing the best we possibly can to make everyone count. We look forward to their report'.
The Task Force will have its first meeting in early July. In addition to Rep. Collins, the other members of the Task Force are:
- Bob Barocci, President and CEO, Advertising Research Foundation
- Melody Spann-Cooper, President and General Manager of WVON-AM, Chicago
- Rev. James L. Demus III, Executive Director of the NAACP Chicago (Southside)
- Ray Durazo, President of Durazo Communications Inc.
- Mary Gonzalez Koenig, President of the Latino Council On the Media
- Scott McDonald, Senior VP for Market Research, Condé Nast Publications
- Byron E. Lewis, Chair and CEO of UniWorld Group
- Guillermo Linares, former member of the New York City Council
- Manuel Mirabal, President of the National Puerto-Rican Coalition, Inc.
- Elinor Tatum, Publisher of The Amsterdam News.
All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.
