Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Porter Novelli SVP Dwayna Haley and Neil Foote, president of the National Black Public Relations Society, talk to PRNEWS Editor Seth Arenstein about diversity in communications.

The killing of George Floyd led the author to think of her father, an immigrant who poured his life into his children. He expected that providing his children with a strong education would help them succeed professionally and personally. Pure merit isn’t enough when structural racism and exclusionary practices exist. The status quo must go, the author argues. Stakeholder capitalism is here to stay.

Yet another example of police brutality was caught on video. This time it was against a white man, in Buffalo, NY. Complicating the issue is that police claim their response statement was crafted as they looked at a second video, as opposed to one that went viral and created a crisis. From a PR standpoint, the incident raises issues about honest communication and how long to wait before you respond to a crisis.

Occasionally a public figure or employee will take a stance that drifts from the overarching owner or employer. That’s when the brand goes into overtime assuring consumers and followers that the opposing message does not represent the entire organization. The NFL played it safe while Brees sat on the hot seat.

While many agencies and brands have voiced their support via social media posts and statements, real action needs to be taken in order to prove the support the industry claims for a more diverse workforce. 

Many companies and organizations are taking stands in support of recent events. More than a few of their statements fall flat. There are several things an organization should consider before it takes a stand. First, avoid empty statements, be sensitive, honest and, most important, say something real.

As communicators, we have a powerful opportunity to positively influence behavior change. Through messaging with strategic calls-to-action, brilliant creative and multichannel outreach, we can impact wide-spread sea change in any environment. Whether you’re operating from agency or brand, our shared purpose within this discipline is to do well by doing good.

The business case for diversity and inclusion is well known. Now, the pandemic and wrongful death of George Floyd in Minneapolis have teed up an opportunity for corporate communicators and PR agencies to re-shape their organizations’ values on diversity and inclusion. It’s a moment that PR should not miss.

In an always-connected digital world, delivering a message to unite a community seems simple. We see this in the unity of health and safety messaging from organizations that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now groups, companies and brands must decide about their stance not only on the death of George Floyd, but support of the black and brown community.

Skittles pledged to honor LGBTQ Pride Month by removing the rainbow colors from its signature product in 2020. “Only one rainbow matters during pride,” greyscale candy wrappers read; individual candies will temporarily be leeched of color. Skittles will donate $1 per pack of its all-white Skittles to LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD. Here are communications takeaways to consider as Pride month—amid nationwide protests against racial inequality—begins.