TORONTO – Saying the company “stands in solidarity with our Black, Indigenous, and people of colour talent, colleagues, creatives, crew, and production and distribution partners,” Bell Media announced today a new Content Diversity Task Force in partnership with BIPOC TV & Film.
Comprised of content leaders from Bell Media’s news, sports, radio, digital, programming, production, marketing, and communications teams, the task force recognizes content decision-makers responsible for the stories told on its platforms and the talent who tell them need to be representative of its audiences, reads the press release.
Bell Media of course has extensive platforms able to amplify diverse voices and perspectives – and will begin to do so Saturday with a 90-minute special called Change & Action: Racism In Canada. Additional speakers and entertainers were also announced today.
Bell Media said it also commits to reviewing the processes and procedures in bringing content to the screen to ensure diverse voices play an integral role part in the story-telling process.
“Understanding the need to listen and learn from underrepresented creators as part of the review process, the Task Force will welcome three representatives from BIPOC TV & Film in advisory roles. A grassroots organization and collective of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in Canada’s TV and film industry, BIPOC TV & Film is dedicated to increasing the representation of BIPOC both in front and behind the camera,” adds the press release.
The partnership will also see Bell Media advocate for diversity and inclusion across the Canadian media industry through the amplification and support of BIPOC TV & Film initiatives.
“As a media company, we have the responsibility to ensure the content we air is reflective of our viewers and listeners, including Black and Indigenous peoples and People of Colour,” said Bell Media president Randy Lennox, in the release. “With the Content Diversity Task Force in partnership with BIPOC TV & Film, we’re committed to changing the decision-making process in the stories we tell on air and amplifying voices from marginalized communities on our platforms. That starts with tomorrow’s special, but we recognize this is only the beginning and there is much work to be done moving forward.”
“The Content Diversity Task Force is a good step in the right direction towards more inclusive programming that both reflects and resonates with Canadians, by increasing the representation of BIPOC in front of and behind the camera,” said
Nathalie Younglai, founder and CEO of BIPOC TV & Film, in the release. “I am glad that BIPOC TV & Film has a seat at the table. We look forward to bringing our voices, concerns, and insights to the conversation with Bell Media and hope we can create meaningful, long-lasting change in the industry, from top to bottom. It’s time.”
The company did not announce who will be on the task force or how it will track and report progress.
The announcement comes a day after the company cut ties with one of its stars, Jessica Mulroney and pulled her show I do. Redo off all of its platforms in response to the way Mulroney treated a Black Toronto social media influencer, Sasha Exeter. (Screen cap from CTV’s Twitter account.)
