Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) in the Communications Industry

A letter from the Editor in Chief

After the public awakening of summer 2020, the issues of diversity and inclusion became top of mind for many of us. Over the past 18 months, we have seen a lot of public pledges and commitments to being more diverse and inclusive from businesses, industries and governments across North America – some actions being more successful than others. It is clear that more learning and understanding are required before we see any meaningful changes.

During this year’s Global Diversity Awareness Month, I reflected on my journey as a first-generation immigrant working in an industry that requires an intricate mastery of the English/French language that not every non-native speaker possesses. There have been times when I’ve seen surprised looks at a meeting when others heard my accent. There have been times when I’ve seen surprised looks at a meeting when others heard my accent. I’ve never felt unwelcome, but it certainly made me self-conscious, and I know I am not the only one who has had this experience. Experiences like this have made me stop and consider how diverse and inclusive the communications industry really is?

In this edition of the Communicator – “Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) in the Communications Industry” – we are exploring diversity and inclusion through our member’s personal experiences, and what we can do to advance IDEA in our everyday work.

Candace Allixendir offers a perspective on how we can change the face of PR and help drive real societal change in “Three ways to drive diversity and inclusion in public relations and communications industry.”

In “How to take action on inclusive communications”, Krista Henry shows what you can start doing now to connect with diverse and inclusive audiences truly.

Matisse Hamel-Nelis advises how communicators can lead the industry, focusing on accessible content creation in “The ‘A’ in IDEA: Expanding your reach with accessible communications.”

Finally, Matthew Collis shares his volunteer experience with IABC Toronto’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee in “Make an Impact in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility.”

Enjoy this issue and continue to listen, learn and advocate for change. Let’s keep the conversation on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility going!

Irene Alifanova, Editor in Chief for Communicator