News: CIPR launches first EDI Strategy “to build a stronger, more diverse PR profession”

THE Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, outlining its plans and commitment to drive change inside the Institute and within and beyond the PR industry.

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The strategy outlines the CIPR’s plans to develop and adapt its activities and champion EDI best practice across six areas; the CIPR staff team, volunteers, the Institute’s governance structure, CIPR members, the wider PR profession, and private, public and third sector leadership. The document details how changes will be embedded in these areas and how progress will be monitored in line with the Institute’s five-year strategic plan.

The strategy has been developed by the CIPR’s EDI Committee following years of research by the Institute highlighting a lack of progression in the PR profession on diversity, with data showing that 9 in 10 UK practitioners are White and 25 per cent are privately educated, around four times higher than the UK national average. The CIPR’s 2020 Race in PR report by the Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Network found Black, Asian, or Ethnic Minority practitioners experienced racism, microaggressions, and unconscious biases in the PR industry as well as inflexible working cultures that deny opportunities for fair progression.

CIPR CEO, Alastair McCapra (pictured) said, “Our mission is to build a stronger, more diverse PR profession that represents the communities we serve. As an industry membership body, we are determined to play our part in creating a PR industry where anyone can build and advance their careers, whatever their background. This strategy is an important step in our journey. Making changes to our structure, culture, and practices will help us confidently advocate for the industry and will be used to inspire change in others. It will allow us to support every PR professional to develop their EDI understanding to enable them to advocate for change in their agencies and organisations and to use our voice to talk about the importance of diverse PR teams. We can only do this together. We’re changing and with your help, we can ensure the CIPR and the PR industry is a place everyone can be part of.”