My commitment to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion have shaped my career and my concerns about the imbalances of power in society led to me becoming a journalist. I am particularly proud to have designed and delivered communications strategies for many clients that have supported their EDI plans and objectives.
One example comes from my work at the news publisher Reach. There, I worked closely with the director of EDI, meeting weekly to review plans and content for socials, maximising opportunities offered by partnerships and other initiatives. To position Reach as a thought-leader, I proposed and helped deliver an EDI podcast to review media-industry issues. Alongside this project, I promoted the activities of its staff community groups, which represented protected characteristics, both internally and externally. I monitored news articles and agendas covering topics that crossed into the EDI agenda and when appropriate, I challenged content that conflicted with the company’s agenda. This included challenging anti-trans coverage in the Daily Express, directly engaging the editor. Working directly with the CEO, I rebalanced the news agenda on this mainstream newspaper in line with Reach’s EDI strategy and policies.
