Globe and Mail launches diversity report

Document will serve as ‘annual reckoning,’ writes publisher Continue Reading Globe and Mail launches diversity report

On Wednesday, Oct. 13, the Globe and Mail quietly released its first annual diversity report, reflecting that “visible minorities” and “persons with disabilities” are underrepresented across most employment categories.

The report, which was published on the Globe’s corporate news site, cites a three-year DEI roadmap and includes broad internal figures collected in 2018 (when the company conducted a voluntary internal survey), and data collected as part of mandatory surveys in 2020 and 2021.

“This inaugural diversity report will be our annual reckoning as we assess progress towards our diversity and inclusion goals, and what work we have left to do,” reads an introductory note from CEO and publisher Phillip Crawley.

Chart from report with text: TRENDS Since 2020 was the first year The Globe conducted a mandatory Employment Equity survey, we will be able to use that as a baseline comparison going forward. However, in 2018, The Globe conducted a voluntary equity survey, with over 60% of staff responding. This allows us to make general comparisons over time. CATEGORY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES VISIBLE MINORITIES THE GLOBE EDITORIAL REVENUE DIGITAL, DATA & IT SUPPORT AREAS TORONTO 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% 0% 0% 0% N/A 1% 1% 1% 23% 24% 26% 15% 12% 14% 16% 17% 20% 39% 46% 51% N/A 39% 30% 51% 2018 2020 2021 2018 2020 2021 2018 2020 2021 2018 2020 2021 2018 2020 2021 FEMALES 54% 50% 50% 50% 42% 43% 62% 64% 59% 26% 34% 37% N/A 72% 73% 51% PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 6% 4% 4% 7% 6% 5% 10% 3% 4% 2% 3% 3% N/A 6% 4% 14% * * Data for Canada as Toronto data N/A — Trends screenshot from the Globe and Mail Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Report

Demographic data is broken down into four categories and uses Census Metropolitan Area figures as comparison points.

“Visible minorities are under-represented in senior leadership, sales and production roles. People with disabilities are under-represented in most job categories and represent a significant opportunity for improvement,” reads the report.

The document cites action items the Globe says it has undertaken in the areas of mental health, training and recruitment as ways to improve employment equity, including flexible work programming, the Carleton-partnered fund for racialized students, its involvement in the Room Up Front photojournalism mentorship program and other efforts to make visual media work more accessible and representative.

The Globe narrowly avoided a worker strike the week before the 2021 federal election as the union pushed for wage boosts and binding equity commitments, which the unit executive first recommended in a statement to management in June 2020.

“The union also noted that management refused ‘to acknowledge or remedy’ structural pay gaps among editorial employees,” wrote the Toronto Star’s Jacob Lorinc reporting on the strike negotiations in September.

A three-year contract was ratified on Sept. 16.

The Globe’s report is available online in full here.