Updates from 2020

In addition to, and to support, the recommendations and action plans that resulted from DiversiPro’s fulsome review, Corus took a number of steps in 2020 which are listed here.

Global News Commitment

  • People sitting in the newsroom and discussing a topic

    In addition to the recommendations and action plans that result from DiversiPro’s fulsome review, we are identifying and implementing specific actions more immediately. We heard the voices from current and former employees, and specifically within our News division, and have acted with the following commitments already underway:

    • More transparent reporting of racialized groups in our teams, both at the frontline and management levels.
    • Targeted recruitment to increase representation of persons of colour across the organization.
    • Specific initiatives aimed at removing systemic barriers to improve retention and promotion opportunities.
    • A renewed commitment to consultation with racialized and marginalized communities in regards to our news coverage.
    • Continued support for targeted scholarships and mentorships for aspiring media professionals.
    • At Corus, our company values are built on a foundation of learning and challenging assumptions to create a new, better future.

    Together we all need to do better, and to do more.

Progress from our Diversity Review:

Corus CEO Signs BlackNorth Initiative Pledge

Updated: July 21, 2020

Corus President & CEO, Doug Murphy joins 200 other Canadian business leaders and their companies in signing the BlackNorth Initiative CEO pledge expressing their commitment to the removal of systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians. The BlackNorth Initiative is another way to strengthen our internal action with outside frameworks, and complements our company-wide systemic review led by DiversiPro as well as other currently initiatives underway.

At the heart of the pledge are strong words:

“Working alongside, and in collaboration with, the BlackNorth Initiative, we will increase our efforts to make our workplaces trusting places to have complex, and sometimes difficult conversations about anti-Black systemic racism and ensure that no barriers exist to prevent Black employees from advancing within the company.”

Our plan is to take the DiversiPro recommendations, along with the BlackNorth Initiatives guidelines, and create an action plan that is targeted for high-impact and sustainable change here at Corus.

Corus’ Nelvana develops diversity commitment for kids content

Updated: August 18, 2020

Corus has committed to do better. As a media and content company, this commitment must extend to our content as well. As a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live-action content, Nelvana is developing an action plan to ensure the Black community is represented in our kids content. The first phase of this action plan is to establish our goals which include:

  • Having stories told by Black voices.
  • Having projects in our development slate created by Black storytellers and projects that feature Black people as main characters.
  • Hiring Black actors to not only voice Black characters but also other characters.
  • Launching a kids content incubator program for BIPOC storytellers, focusing on Black storytellers to begin.

This action plan joins the work happening across our other content teams as well as at Global News, work that will also complement DiversiPro’s review and recommendations to address systemic barriers and to strengthen diversity and inclusion in our workforce.

New Head of Diversity and Inclusion joins Corus

Updated: September 28, 2020

At Corus we continue to expand our Diversity and Inclusion team and have hired a Head of Diversity and Inclusion, a newly created role.

Lenore MacAdam, previously National Inclusion Leader at Deloitte Canada, will lead our Diversity and Inclusion roadmap and next steps alongside our Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Dave D’Oyen. Lenore will report directly to Doug Murphy, CEO of Corus.

Having two specialized roles in this important part of our business underscores our long-term commitment to move forward proactively and purposely, as well as to ensure focused action on key recommendations from the DiversiPro report, now expected in October.

We look forward to the change we will all make together.

Corus joins BIPOC TV & Film’s HireBIPOC Initiative alongside Canada’s broadcasters.

Updated: October 5, 2020

Corus has joined HireBIPOC, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Canada’s broadcasters and industry leaders. The initiative—led by BIPOC TV and Film brings together 20+ media organizations, including Corus, Bell Media CBC and Rogers as Foundational Partners, to commit to hiring more BIPOC creatives and crews when greenlighting original productions.

HireBIPOC.com’s industry-wide online roster will facilitate and increase our hiring at Corus of more BIPOC writers, directors, camera operators, hair and makeup, production executives and other roles. This transformational industry commitment will advance diversity both on and off air and will ensure we are supporting and elevating BIPOC talent in all of our Original Content productions at Corus.

DiversiPro Report Update & Next Steps

Updated: October 30, 2020

The Executive Leadership Team and D&I Leaders at Corus have received the recommendations from DiversiPro and will now take a few days to review the recommendations, address any questions with DiversiPro, absorb and fully understand the content. During the week of November 9, we will share key findings and insights as part of our ongoing commitment to share information and progress.

Creating a New Path for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Corus

Updated: November 12, 2020

The Executive Leadership Team and DE&I Leaders at Corus have reviewed the recommendations from the DiversiPro review and have shared key findings, insights and next steps with our employees.

Where to Find Ongoing Updates

In our commitment to provide ongoing updates, both internally and externally, an overview of this information can be found here in the Sustainability section of this website under Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Sustainability Report

Learn more about Corus’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities.