How the PR industry can—and must—do more on DE&I

Let’s say it up front: The public relations profession needs to do much better in improving its D&I representation. Google the two terms—public relations, D&I—and you’ll find myriad studies and surveys indicating a striking imbalance between the number of people of color and whites in a large number of companies and agencies. Recognizing the problem is of course the first step in proceeding to fix it, but it is essential for that initial step to be followed in rapid succession by tangible, achievable and purposeful changes.

At PRSA, we are taking those steps and initiating those changes.

D&I Month, which we recognize and celebrate each October, has taken on intensified resonance in 2020. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others have served as catalysts for righting long-term wrongs, including instituting and maintaining organizational and societal cultures that recognize and celebrate people of all ages, races, genders, religions and sexual identities.