“We should have done more, and sooner,” the statement acknowledged.
In response to a letter from Monday from more than 100 public relations firms demanding that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association give ‘explicit plans’ for ‘transformation’, the organization behind the Golden Globe Awards issued a statement stressing that he got the message.
The HFPA currently consists of 87 LA-based journalists for outlets abroad and said: “As proof of our commitment, the board unanimously approved a plan to increase this membership to a minimum of 100 members this year. , with the requirement that at least 13 percent of the members are black journalists. ‘
It further promises: “We are committed to making the necessary changes within our organization and in our industry as a whole. We also recognize that we needed to do more and sooner.” And it adds: “While we realize this is a long-term process, we will remain transparent, deliver updates and have confidence in our ability to change and restore our organization and the Golden Globes.”
The full text of the statement appears below.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association reiterates that we are committed to making the necessary changes in our organization and in our industry as a whole. We also acknowledge that we had to do more and earlier. As proof of our commitment, the board unanimously approved a plan to increase this membership to a minimum of 100 members this year, with the requirement that at least 13 percent of the members must be black journalists. We are also continuing to work on the comprehensive initiatives announced last week. Our external legal adviser has already begun work on transforming changes in our organization, including a comprehensive review of our governance and code of conduct, and dr. Shaun Harper, our new strategic diversity advisor, has identified the following workflows:
-Analysis of policies, practices, recruitment activities and membership selection processes through the prism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI);
-Facilitating 20 quarterly trainings over the next five years on DEI topics ranging from implicit and explicit bias to strategic membership diversification, the development of the Association with Changing Demographics, welcoming black members to an inclusive environment and insurance from fair paths to leadership for women members, to name a few;
– the launch of prospective strategic DEI partner organizations in journalism and entertainment, and the development of a strategy to maintain these mutually rewarding relationships over many years;
– Conduct interviews with members to invite their input on the development and strategic realization of DEI objectives. Also gather qualitative insights from industry leaders on what they feel the Association needs to do to become more equitable, diverse and inclusive; and
-Systematically evaluate and make transparent the association’s year-on-year progress with regard to DEI objectives and commitments.
We also started meeting with different advocacy groups and racially diverse partners to gather their input and hear their views on the additional reforms that need to take place. Although we realize that this is a long-term process, we will remain transparent, provide updates and have confidence in our ability to change and restore our organization and the Golden Globes. As we do so, we invite others from the Hollywood community to join us in promoting the promotion of racial equity in our industry.