NAB Show Symposium to Tackle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) will host a Diversity Symposium on Sunday, April 24 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the 2022 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The symposium, designed to help broadcast organizations develop corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies and embrace diversity in media and the workplace, is open to all NAB Show attendees.

“As a reflection of our culture and communities, it is more important than ever that the media create a workplace that fosters understanding and provides opportunities to people from all backgrounds,” said Michelle Duke, NAB’s chief diversity officer. “In this highly competitive job market, we are hyper focused this year on helping companies navigate the recruitment process and attract a diverse workforce. We are excited to engage, discuss and collaborate with NAB Show attendees on these timely issues.”

The symposium will kick off with a session titled “Removing Bias From the Hiring Process to Diversify Your Talent Pool,” moderated by Danyelle S.T. Wright, vice president of Employment and Labor Law and Chief Diversity Officer at The E.W. Scripps Company. Featuring Kevin Johnson, SFC United States Army (ret) and Director of Veteran Recruiting at Hearst Television, the session will provide insights from a panel of experts as they examine some of the common missteps that organizations make during the hiring cycle and offer tips to remove bias from the process and ensure DEI is top of mind.

Tegna Chief Diversity Officer Grady Tripp will moderate a panel with George Spencer, chief development officer at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, titled “Pipeline Partnerships: Building a Diverse Pipeline to Attract Top Talent to Entry Level Opportunities at Your Station.” Attendees will hear from broadcasters and partner organizations that cultivate top-tier, diverse, entry-level talent who are ready to start their careers in every function from sales to engineering to finance.

Julia Yarbough, communications consultant at Magid, will moderate “Start with Inclusion to Build the Brand and Attract the Best Talent.” Panelists Deborah Barrett, president of DH Barrett Solutions, The E.W. Scripps Company Head of Talent Acquisition Karen Hite and Lauryn Sargent, CoFounder & Partner at Stories Incorporated, will discuss how employers can assess and reframe their culture to create a fully inclusive environment that embraces the entire team.

The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion titled “Representation Matters: Intersectionality On- and Off-Air.” Panelists Renee Summerour, Jenn Auh, Le’Andre Fox, Cassie Soto and Carrie Roper of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s 7@7 team will explore how having the most diverse anchor desk in the Las Vegas market has led to the success of the newspaper’s digital newscast and the importance of intersectional diversity on- and off-camera.

The 2022 symposium follows NAB’s first Diversity Symposium, held virtually on November 3-4.

Register as press for the 2022 NAB Show.

About NAB Show

NAB Show, held April 23–27, 2022, in Las Vegas, encompasses media, entertainment and technology and is the ultimate marketplace for those seeking to create superior audio and video experiences. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways. For complete details, visit www.nabshow.com.

About NAB

The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.