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July 31, 2014 #CommsChat on diversity in PR

This week on #CommsChat we’re joined by the @PRCA_UK and theCIPR Diversity Working Group (@CiPRDWG) and the group’s chair, Catherine Grinyer (@cgrinyer) as we discuss the state of diversity in the UK PR industry. Despite a range of initiatives set up to tackle the lack of diversity in the industry, recent census data shows that there’s been little improvement. We’re hoping to ascertain why this is and discuss what can be done to improve things. Contributing to the discussion will be the PRCA’s @MattCartmell and the CIPR’s @AJMRoss.

• Why is lack of diversity a problem for the PR industry?
• What are the key obstacles that need to be tackled?
• Why hasn’t there been a great deal of improvement so far?
• What can communications teams do to improve diversity?
• How can you ensure that your campaign will appeal to diverse audiences?

While we have just the five general topics, some things to think (and tweet!) about include:

• Why is PR overwhelming a white, middle class profession?
• PR has a gender imbalance – too many women at the bottom and not enough at the top, do you agree?
• Why is it acceptable to pay women less than men in PR?
• How many of your clients would benefit from campaigns that specifically target diverse audiences?
• Can PR be a profession that supports flexible working?
•  How inclusive is your workplace of people from different backgrounds and cultures?
• PR is thought to be a gay-friendly profession but is it really, how many openly gay senior PR professionals do you know?
• Does the stress of the job actually make us sick, does PR have a mental health problem?
• Are your campaigns excluding disabled people?
• Do you need a degree to work in PR?
• Why do some agencies persist in offering unpaid internships?

Join us! We tweet from @CommsChat and #CommsChat takes place from 8-9pm UK time – for worldwide times, go here. Anyone can take part in the discussion – simply follow the hashtag here or on Twitter. If you can’t make the chat or would like to revisit it, a transcript will go up on Tuesday morning.

We’d love to hear your suggestions for future topics for #CommsChat – get in touch with Brittany by email or Twitter if you have any ideas.

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: CIPR, Diversity, PR, PRCA