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Our Commitment to Diversity in Media Partnerships
As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), we are proactively expanding our relationships with Minority, Women, Veteran, LGBT, and Disability-owned businesses (MWVDLBEs). We recognize the value of a diverse media partner base and are dedicated to increasing our support for companies that reflect the rich tapestry of our society. As part of our Media Partner Diversity Program initiative, we asked some key questions around diverse ownership and practices, some listed below, to our main partners to understand their position. We learned some interesting information regarding existing diverse practices and encouraging programs in the works. This will be an ongoing piece of our partner vetting to ensure we work with and test innovative strategies with diverse partners.
Initiatives:
Media Partner Diversity Program: We have initiated a Media Partner Diversity Program to understand better the diversity landscape within our current media partner network. This program involves engaging with our partners to gather information about their ownership structure, internal diversity practices, and supplier diversity programs. Some of the key questions we ask include:
1. Is your company a Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, LGBTQ+-Owned, or Disability-Owned business?
2. Please provide any other diverse indicators that define your business ownership outside of the ones listed above (i.e. Small Business, Green, etc.)
3. Do you currently have a diversity program? (i.e. does your company have a policy statement, participate in outreach activities, promote diverse hiring practices, etc.)
4. Do you explicitly prohibit discrimination consistent with the protections of the Equal Employment Opportunity’s policies?
5. Do you explicitly adhere to a non-discrimination policy that includes race, gender, and other federally protected categories?
Diverse Partner Vetting: We are integrating diversity considerations into our partner vetting process. This ensures that we prioritize working with a diverse mix of partners who align with our DEI values. We consider factors such as:
+ The diversity of the partner's ownership and leadership team.
+ The partner's track record in working with diverse communities.
+ The partner's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within their own organization.
Community Outreach: We actively participate in community outreach events that benefit diverse communities. This allows us to connect with and support MWVDLBE media companies on a local level.
