Tools and measures for diversity and inclusion in media industries: International best practice and informing policy change in the Irish film and television sector

Abstract

This article focuses on equality, diversity and inclusion in the Irish media industry and how it can be improved. The need to develop these policies, tools and measures has become pertinent, considering that the Irish media workforce currently lacks diversity. The aims of this article are twofold: (i) examine the tools and measures from the international media industry that have been developed to improve equality, diversity and inclusion and (ii) interrogate how these tools and measures could work within the Irish context. Through sampling tools and measures developed in varying media industries in English language territories, this research used this analysis as the basis of semi-structured interviews with independent production companies and broadcasters in Ireland, to gauge how the media industry can develop equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives. This article identifies four central areas that would encourage further diversity in the Irish media sector: data gathering and monitoring, developing diversity standards, objective setting and incentivization and diverse recruitment for the industry.

Conceptualising change in equality, diversity and inclusion: A case study of the Irish film and television sector

“…They were asked to document key moments and interventions that led to change. Further interviews were undertaken as part of a research project for the BAI (Kerrigan, Liddy & O' Brien, 2021) to audit attitudes and approaches to equality and diversity in 2020-2021. Data were gathered through semi-structured, indepth interviews done by the authors as described in Tables 1 and 2.…”

Overseas Communication Strategy and Development Direction of Chinese Film and Television Works in the Internet Era

“…Kerrigan, P et al examined development initiatives in the Irish media industry in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion. Four core areas were identified in the results: data collection and monitoring, development of diversity standards, target setting and incentives, and diversity recruitment in the industry [13]. Chen, H et al examined the mechanisms by which Chinese kung fu films and TV movies influence the image perception of tourist destinations and found that audience engagement can, directly and indirectly, influence viewers' perceptions of wuxia culture and enhance the image of tourist destinations through cultural encounters perception [14].…”