In a troubling trend sweeping media organizations, journalists of color are finding themselves disproportionately targeted during corporate restructuring, highlighting deep-rooted inequities in newsroom employment.

Trey Sherman, an associate producer at CBS Evening News Plus, experienced this firsthand when he was laid off during a company merger. During a seemingly routine meeting with executive David Reiter, Sherman was informed his show was being eliminated - a narrative that would soon reveal stark racial disparities.

What emerged was a disturbing pattern: of the nine producers on Sherman's team, all four people of color were terminated, while five white colleagues were reassigned to other positions. Sherman's viral TikTok video documenting this experience shed light on a broader systemic issue plaguing media organizations nationwide.

These layoffs coincide with an aggressive push against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly following executive orders from the Trump administration. Companies across sectors have been systematically dismantling DEI programs, with media organizations facing particular scrutiny from regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The statistical backdrop is stark. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey revealed that newsrooms remain overwhelmingly white: 76% of journalists are white, while only 8% are Latino/Hispanic, 6% are Black, and 3% are Asian - a significant misalignment with the nation's demographic composition.

Regulatory actions have further complicated the landscape. FCC Chair Brendan Carr launched investigations into diversity initiatives at major media corporations like Comcast, NBC Universal, Disney, and ABC. Some companies, like Disney, have even removed diversity-related language from their annual reports.

For journalists like Sherman, these aren't just statistics - they represent real careers, dreams, and professional opportunities being systematically eliminated. The pattern suggests these layoffs are far from coincidental, but part of a calculated effort to roll back progress in media representation.

As newsrooms continue to grapple with these challenges, the industry faces a critical moment: will they recommit to the diversity goals established decades ago, or continue down a path of regression that undermines journalistic excellence and public trust?