THE CURRENT

STATE OF
DIVERSITY IN
THE PUBLIC
RELATIONS
FIELD
Top Traits of the Greats
PR DIVERSITY
According to the Diversity
Action Alliance (DAA), the
current state of the PR field is
a stunning 71% white, with the
remaining 29% being
multicultural (Up 8% from
2020).
Picture via (Diversity Action Alliance Report 2022 2023)

DIVERSITY IN
EXCECUTIVE
POSITIONS
The data behind individuals in
an executive position is even
more surprising. According to
the Diversity of Action
Alliance (DAA), executives are
Picture via (Diversity Action Alliance Report 2022 2023)
81% white , with the rest
being multicultural.

DIVERSITY IN
CORPORATIONS
The diversity in corporations
has continued to become more
diverse since 2021, but not at
a rate that would make the PR
industry more well round in
good time.
Picture via (Diversity Action Alliance Report 2022 2023)

DIVERSITY IN
AGENCIES
This specifically focuses on
midsized agencies with around
690 employees per
organization.The number of
multiculutural employees sits at
26%, which has increased 5%
compared to the 2020 survey.
Picture via (Diversity Action Alliance Report 2022 2023)

“IT’S PR THAT NEEDS TO BE CREATIVE. IT’S PR THAT NEEDS

TO BE NEW AND DIFFERENT. IT’S PR THAT NEEDS TO BE
ORIGINAL. THE BEST WAY TO ESTABLISH A BRAND IS TO
CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, AND CREATING A NEW
CATEGORY REQUIRES CREATIVE THINKING OF THE HIGHEST
ORDER.”

AL & LAURA RIES

 WHAT CAN
ORGANIZATIONS
AND AGENCIES
DO FOR BETTER
DIVERSITY?

RECRUITING AND HIRING

Companies can prioritize diversity
when it comes to hiring. PR teams can
have the potential to lack ideas
because their team does not have the
proper diversity to see from multiple
viewpoints. They can focus on hiring
people from different backgrounds
and areas that would be benefical to
their team.

DISCUSSIONS
Allow for meetings, seminars, and
other ways that your team and
company can be reminded of the
importance of diversity in the
workplace, and specifically in PR.
Constantly being reminded that
diversity is necessary for a
successful PR team is crucial for a
good environment.

INCLUSION GOALS
Companies can incorporate
inclusion goals, that way
employees feel like they really
belong at the company and are
doing real good in the world.
Driving more people to want to
work for your company, therefor
getting a more broad range of
employees.

INCREASE EQUITY
Equity in the workplace can be
improved by sharing stories about
different people who work there,
making sure everyone knows about
fairness efforts, and working with the
media to show that the company values
diversity and equity. They can show that
they solve problems fairly and
encourage everyone to be included.

“IT’S PR THAT NEEDS TO BE CREATIVE. IT’S PR THAT NEEDS

TO BE NEW AND DIFFERENT. IT’S PR THAT NEEDS TO BE
ORIGINAL. THE BEST WAY TO ESTABLISH A BRAND IS TO
CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, AND CREATING A NEW
CATEGORY REQUIRES CREATIVE THINKING OF THE HIGHEST
ORDER.”

AL & LAURA RIES

 RESOURCES

Dei in PR: Its importance and how to create a more inclusive workspace.
PRLab StudentStaffed Public Relations Agency DEI in PR Its Importance
and How to Create a More Inclusive Workspace Comments. (1968, January
1). https://www.bu.edu/prlab/2022/03/15/dei-in-pr-its-importance-and-
how-to-create-a-more-inclusive-
workspace/#:~:text=Allow%20for%20plenty%20of%20meetings,further%20
its%20goals%20of%20DEI.
DePhillips, K. (2022, November 4). The 50 best PR quotes of all time.
contentfac.com. https://contentfac.com/damn-i-wish-id-said-that-50-of-
our-favorite-pr-quotes/

Diversity Action Alliance. (2023, December). Diversity Action Alliance Report

2022.https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f3d4ff90cfe7a50ea56bde6/t/657
b0cba8cc13c7faff743dd/1702563005673/Diversity+Action+Alliance+Report+20
22+11.21.2023.pdf
Diversity Action Association. (2021, July). DAA+Benchmark+Report+
(Jul+2021).https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f3d4ff90cfe7a50ea56bde6/
t/61114ba6723fd06b0583da00/1628558553395/DAA+Benchmark+Report+%28
Jul+2021%29

Ireland, J. (2023, May 30). How to effectively promote equity in the Workplace.
Reed.com. https://www.reed.com/articles/how-to-effectively-promote-equity-in-the-
workplace
King, N. (2023, September 12). Council post: Making the case for diversity in
marketing and PR. Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2019/02/15/making-
the-case-for-diversity-in-marketing-and-pr/?sh=d634099424d1
Reporting tool. Diversity Action Alliance. (n.d.).
https://www.diversityactionalliance.org/reporting-tool