Cable Continues to Make Diversity a Priority

diversityweek

As an industry that reaches all ethnicities, cultures, and economic classes across the country through a wide array of cable programming, Internet and technology services, one of the hallmarks of the cable industry has been its longstanding commitment to diversity. This may sound like an oft-used corporate talking point but when you take a closer look at how the industry has become such a staunch supporter of diversity organizations, programs and initiatives, it rings true.

Cable’s annual Diversity Week will be held next month in New York City where organizations, business leaders and thousands of executives will honor diversity champions and discuss ways that they can continue to strengthen the contributions of women and multi-ethnic professionals in cable. In addition to leadership workshops, mentoring roundtables and breakout sessions, the week of September 28 will also include the cable industry’s most prestigious fundraising event, the Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation Dinner. The event typically raises more than $1 million to fund diversity-oriented programs and initiatives.

At this year’s fundraising dinner, the 2015 Diversity Champion Award will go to Univision Communications Inc, in recognition of the network’s culture of inclusion and representation of the country’s rapidly changing population. It does so not just in its programming development but also in the make-up of its senior leadership, staff, and workforce.

But what the Walter Kaitz Foundation does all year-round for the cable industry encompasses much more than hosting the annual dinner and presenting the diversity champion award. The foundation fosters diversity initiatives all year-round. Money raised at the annual dinner provide funds programs of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) that focus on encouraging the development and success of minorities and women in cable, media and telecommunications through leadership program and services. The Walter Kaitz Foundation also uses funds to offer scholarships and fellowship for minorities to gain face-to-face access with cable programming executives and production companies, and exposure to the business trends and opportunities in the industry.

The programs and initiatives run by these industry-focused organizations enable cable operators, programmers and suppliers of all sizes to be active participants in the industry’s diversity agenda. Through surveys and other research, the industry routinely tracks its diversity benchmarks to show where progress has been made and improvement is needed.

From the content you see on TV to the hiring strategies at large networks in the industry, the cable platform constantly strives to include and represent the diverse perspectives of its ever-changing customer base. For more information on participating in Diversity Week and what the fundraising dinner is all about, go to the 30th Anniversary of The Kaitz Fundraising Dinner website.