When the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center first surveyed communications companies last year to determine the number of women in their top ranks, Susan Ness, a visiting professor who guided this year's study, hoped it would embarrass some into improving their record.

But when the most recent results were announced last week, Ness said it was clear there had been "little or no'' improvement: Women still account for less than 18 percent of board members at the largest companies and less than 23 percent of top executives.

"When they get to the top, people surround themselves with those cut from the same mold,'' said Ness, the center's director of information and society.

"It's discouraging, but men have continued hiring more men.''

The study looked at more than 50 publicly held communications companies, gleaning data from official records such as annual reports and Securities and

Exchange Commission filings. Companies were divided into four industry categories: entertainment, telecommunications and cable, publishing, and Internet.

Of the four, publishing companies have the highest percentage of women on their boards (17 percent) and among their executives (22 percent). Internet companies have the lowest percentage of female board members (8 percent), and at entertainment companies women make up just 14 percent of top executives.

Most of the female executives on a panel discussing the results said that change would only come from the top.

"Until the CEO looks around and says, 'That's not right,' it won't change,'' said Kim Kelly, the newly appointed president of the cable company Insight Communications Co.