Is there some genetic propensity which makes white, middle-class males particularly gifted at print journalism? And has the gene recently mutated so that white women are suddenly showing the same talent?And merit itself is not an objective quality. Eventually it will happen, as more of them get on to local papers and come through." Not one of the people interviewed thought there was anything improper about the fact that, unlike any other business, journalistic jobs are rarely advertised and there is no open competition or fair selection process.Dr Beulah Ainley, who has undertaken a seven-year study on ethnic minorities in the media, has little patience with such views: "Newspaper editors are complacent. We don't support reverse discrimination." John Honeywell, the managing editor of the Express group, adds: "We don't set out to exclude anybody. You get theimpression that these individuals genuinely believe that their employment practices are equitable and efficient.Gordon Barkaway, director of personnel of the Telegraph group, is fairly representative: "We recruit and promote on merit I believe that race and sex are immaterial. Only three felt that the issueneeded to be raised.Three stock responses emerged: that the industry employs people of calibre and is colour-blind, that (perhaps) ethnic minorities do not apply, or that the problem lies with the regional press. Indeed, one man thought it was an affront even to be asked because of the implication of conspiracy.

Others said candidly that they had not given the subject a moment's thought. Unlike many other industries, newspapers have no ethnic monitoring so the number is based on conversations with managing editors and estimates by the National Union of Journalists and the Black Journalists' Association, a media network that has existed since the mid-Eighties. Ask editors why this should be so and the reactions are interesting Some are plainly uncomfortable with the question. Not a single editor, regular commentator or critic comes from these groups although occasionally there are sightings of the odd reviewer, usually pronouncing on ``ethnic'' books, plus a few freelancers here and there. We have wine and chess correspondents, but no minority community correspondents who may be able to present news with special depth.

Here are some roughly calculated figures. In 1995, out of approximately 5,000 journalists on staff or long-term contracts with Britain's major newspapers, fewer than 30 are black or Asian. We are tired of Western journalists visiting for a few days and then going home with scare stories".. If these Westerners - or the Bulgarians - were still seriously concerned, it is unlikely they would not speak out.But Jim Varley, editor of the respected Nuclear Engineering International, would like to see greater efforts to achieve international consistency among regulators, more transparency, a higher profile for internationally agreed standards, with the IAEA given the power and responsibility to provide open assessments of how countries are matching up."There are international standards for radiological protection, and there is a UN nuclear convention, but we could do more." It seems unsatisfactory that the IAEA can trigger alarm, but not signal the all-clear at the appropriate moment.In the meantime, a Bulgarian journalist reminded me forcefully that "we do not eat babies here. It is true that a club of Western regulators has been helping their Bulgarian colleagues to assess the plant's condition.