In an effort to help keep tabs on where WarnerMedia is at when it comes to diversity and inclusion, the media company is being transparent with their findings when it comes equity and inclusion with The Power of Stories, a 2020-21 Equity and Inclusion (E&I) report, which illustrates how its systems-based strategy is looking to bolster underrepresented voices around the globe.
This year’s report highlights equity and inclusion across four areas at WarnerMedia: Workforce (including workforce composition and business resource groups for employees), Content (including scripted TV, films, news, and animation), Programs (including creative development and pipeline programs) and Community (including industry and local outreach partnerships and initiatives).
This year’s findings found an overall increase in representation — but things can always be better to reach full equity. Read highlights from the report below:
- Workforce Global Gender analysis shows 54% of the workforce are men and 46% women.
- U.S. Ethnicity and Race analysis shows a workforce that is 58% White, 12% Asian American 12% Black, 11% Hispanic/Latinx, 3% two or more races, 0.3% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, 0.1% Native American/Native Alaskan and 3% declined to state.
- WarnerMedia U.S.-based Scripted Shows On-Screen Representation: 36% women, up 2% from 2019. 29% people of color, up 5% from 2019.
- Warner Bros. Pictures’ On-Screen Representation: 30% women, down 4% from 2019. 29% people of color, up 5% from 2019.
- WarnerMedia U.S.-based Scripted Shows Behind-the-Camera Representation: 28% women, up 5% from 2019. 29% people of color, up 6% from 2019.
- Warner Bros.’ Pictures’ Behind-the-Camera Representation: 27% women, up 4% from 2019. 27% people of color, up 4% from 2019.
- Animation: 54% of animated protagonists in development at Cartoon Network are female and 52% of lead characters in development at Warner Bros. Animation are female.
“Stories that deeply resonate can change how a person contextualizes the world,” said Jason Kilar, CEO at WarnerMedia. “Not only do we get to work on this, but we get to work on this at scale. We are a missionary team of nearly 30,000 team members… inspired, passionate and, of course, with the potential to do far more. And that is a good thing given there is so much more to do. These were important steps towards making WarnerMedia more equitable and inclusive. And yet we all acknowledge that the bulk of the work is still in front of us.”
“I firmly believe that talent is distributed equally in the world we live in today, but opportunity is not always evenly distributed,” said Christy Haubegger, EVP, Communications and Chief Inclusion Officer at WarnerMedia. “That is why we have an Equity & Inclusion strategy that has been put into place to open those opportunities — across our workforce, our content, our pipeline programs, and the work we do within our communities. It is not about random acts of diversity. It’s about ongoing, measured and systemic change if we are going to achieve true equity for everyone.”
The report is a look into WarnerMedia’s global portfolio of content and Brands (including Cartoon Network, CNN, DC, HBO, HBO Max, TNT and Warner Bros. Television and Pictures), overall deals, business resource groups, employee experiences, social impact efforts, and pipeline programs. WarnerMedia has doubled down on its investments and put into place an infrastructure that aligns the company’s efforts and goals, striving toward an even more equitable and inclusive workplace.
