When you're talking about Inclusion and diversity in business, it's hard to ignore Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's impact on the media industries. More and more content is being judged on whether they are inclusive enough or whether the practices behind the scenes are fair and just to everybody.

With these conversations becoming more of an issue than ever before, we see more and more businesses in the media adapt to these changes. Let's see why DEI is an important issue in the media industry and how you can achieve it.

Why is DEI in the Media Industry So Important?

DEI is an important issue in all cases. It is more than just a policy or a theory; it's a practice of creating a fairer and more just environment for all kinds of people involved in any kind of space, whether it be in a classroom, in a corporate office, or the media industry. And since most of us consume media in one way or the other, it's a huge industry that cannot be ignored.

Everything from the news article you read in your morning paper to the show you binge on the internet falls under the media industry. It is a multi-billion-dollar industry with hundreds of businesses all working to provide content. You would think that such a huge industry will have a lot of diversity.

Unfortunately, if you look behind a lot of these workspaces, more often than not, there's a kind of homogeneous workforce, whether it be behind the scenes of a television drama or in the head office of an advertising firm.

For instance, about half of sports fans are women, but only about 4% of the media attention is towards women in sports. In journalism, there has been only a 3 percent increase in the number of POC publishers since 2015.

As for any other space, DEI is important simply because we need to create a safer space for everyone to thrive in. No one should be unfairly judged or left out or even face threats in their workplace because of their ethnicity or race or gender, or even sexuality. Not only is it the right thing to do, but increasing DEI can also increase profits in the media industry.

How to Achieve DEI in the Media and Entertainment Industry?

DEI doesn't just happen organically. In the current state of things, there need to be active practices that promote and implement DEI in any kind of business in the media industry. From having a DEI team that ensures everyone on set or in the office is being fair and inclusive to portraying diverse casts and members in all kinds of work, there's a lot to be done.

Here are a few ways to improve DEI in the media.

-> Acknowledgment

A large portion of people in the industry doesn't even think there's a problem, mostly because they get benefitted from the system. For there to be change, businesses need to analyze and acknowledge where there is a bias.

Using tools like "Spell Check for Bias" can help you measure the representation both behind and in front of the camera on a set. Companies like Twitter are being more transparent about their demographic data. These are practices that can allow anyone to point out if and where a bias exists.

-> Diversity Focused Content

No matter what kind of content you work with, you should always keep in mind how diverse the people working on it are. TalkDEI is a great example of this, as it allows you access to diversity-focused digital content that showcases a lot of different kinds of professional growth skills.

They are using learning and educational technology to not only create space for minority business professionals but also use this space to educate others on these issues as well. Focusing on diverse content in whatever media form you work with can greatly improve DEI in your workspace.

Conclusion

It's hard to ignore Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's impact on the media industries. Though the industry practices are starting to improve, there's still a whole lot to be done. With proper education and practices, DEI in any business or workspace in the media industry can be improved.