{"id":13748,"date":"2019-03-11T08:47:27","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T15:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/dodge\/2019\/03\/11\/diversify-your-feed\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T16:34:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:34:46","slug":"diversify-your-feed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/dodge\/2019\/03\/11\/diversify-your-feed\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversify Your Feed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Asked to advise a room full of Chapman students about how to identify a workplace where diversity and inclusion are valued, Bogart Avila, BA\/PRA \u201915, a strategist for Giant Spoon, Adweek<\/em>\u2019s Breakthrough Agency of the Year for 2018, had a straightforward answer: \u201cAsk questions about the organization\u2019s diversity initiative. If they can\u2019t give you tangible next steps for diversity, then they haven\u2019t thought about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do we create a more diverse workplace? How does someone\u2019s identity impact their career? Why is it so hard to talk about? Five communications professionals, including four Chapman PR and Advertising alumni, discussed these questions with Chapman students as part of the Pri5m Bateman Team and PRAA\u2019s diversity panel on Tuesday, March 5, in Marion Knott Studios.<\/p>\n

The panel explored ideas ranging from what questions students should ask when interviewing to what a world of true inclusion would look like. They also spoke about broader topics such as how consumers can\u00a0support companies that embrace diversity.<\/p>\n

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Stephanie Tinsley Fitzwilliam, class of \u201900, founder of Tinsley PR, a leading firm in gaming, said, \u201cEverybody’s playing games. The fans are speaking with their dollars.\u201d Where people spend their money speaks directly to an organization. When consumers stop spending their money for a product or service, companies take notice. But, of course, diversity and inclusion are not just about the money.<\/p>\n

Pauline Yang, class of \u201916, account executive at Muse Communications, a multicultural agency, said that \u201ceveryone brings a new perspective.\u201d As the panelists explained, diversity and inclusion provide more voices and experiences to draw from. These perspectives keep companies from creating offensive ads like the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad or products like H&M\u2019s \u201cCoolest Monkey in the Jungle\u201d sweatshirt. Having diverse perspectives in the communications field leads to a environment of understanding and respect.<\/p>\n

Reaching a point of understanding requires lots of time and effort according to Darlene Puente, a marketing consultant at Puente Counseling. \u201c[People need] to sacrifice hours, or nights, that’s what it takes to understand a new demographic.\u201d Puente said, \u201cAdvice for new students: it’s hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the work of enriching diversity includes everyone, from every background, says Michael Latt, \u201913, a producer and strategist who has worked for clients like Common and the Sundance Institute. As a white male, Latt uses \u201cmy [his] privilege to amplify other voices. I want to put my [He puts his] foot in the door so I [he] can open it for others.”<\/p>\n

Latt offered this perspective on how he sees his role in building diversity: \u201cWhen you talk about white dudes in board rooms it\u2019s not about me, I know my intentions. You should not frame it as the white savior. It\u2019s about standing on the sidelines, not making the narrative about you. Come with an open mind and people will see what you are about. Come with humility.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Panelists<\/strong>
\nTwo of the panelists came from multicultural agencies, others came from a background of supporting diversity and inclusion through their work in hiring, and all of them came to share what makes diversity so important to them and in our world today. Each shared moments from his or her own personal journey and talked about how their identity has impacted their work.<\/p>\n

The panelists were:<\/p>\n