City to Ad Agencies: Hire More Blacks

New York's Human Rights Commission is forcing advertising agencies to hire more blacks after a study found that they hold only 2.5 percent of senior positions. The city will monitor several agencies for three years, fining those that fail to meet hiring goals up to $250,000. "This is a step in the right direction," said Shonda Wright, spokesperson for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She added, "Change will not happen overnight. But the issue is out in forefront and in the minds of the public."—Paul Chi