Cynthia Littleton 
Amazon’s Inclusion Playbook: One Year Later, What Has Changed?
This time last year, one of the world’s largest corporations made a major statement about its expectations for persity, equity and inclusion within its content operations.
Amazon’s Prime Video and Amazon Studios published a detailed inclusion policy and playbook to spell out its guidelines and requirements for producers working on shows for the studio arm or commissioned by Prime Video. It was a concerted effort to be transparent and to tell the creative community “here’s what we think good looks like,” says Latasha Gillespie, head of global persity, equity and inclusion for Prime Video, Amazon Studios and IMDB.
One year later, Gillespie tells Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast, that there has been measurable progress in hiring, especially in low-profile areas like transportation and support services. Amazon’s policy for content productions and database of businesses, vendors and talent from underrepresented backgrounds is an open-source document posted online for all to peruse. That’s been important to making it a “living, breathing document” and industry resource, she says.
“We’re not saying that we don’t ever get it wrong. We made it public because it’s a mechanism to hold ourselves accountable,” Gillespie says. “We’re asking not only our creative partners but our industry to hold hands and do this with us. And oh yes, by the way, if you find a better way of doing any aspect of this policy or playbook, will you please share it back with us so we can continually update it and we can all benefit from the learning.”
For a company that prides itself on being customer-obsessed, Gillespie explains, it’s crucial that the people behind Amazon shows have the right “lived experience” to tell the stories that they do. Overall, she’s been impressed about how many people are committed to meaningful progress. But there have been a few frank conversations as well.
“Our creative partners have been great allies and co-conspirators in this work. I haven’t run into anyone who says, ‘I don’t think this is right. We shouldn’t be doing this,’ ” Gillespie says. “However, the devil is in the nuance and in the details. So I have run into creators who had good intentions of telling a story a certain way without understanding the harm that they could potentially be causing.”
“We all measure ourselves by our intentions, but others may measure us by our impact. So if you’re going to tell a trans story, then you should either have that lived experience or somebody in your writers room needs to have it. If you’re going to tell a specific story centering on a woman of color, then there needs to be women of color on your producing team and your writing team,” Gillespie says. “You need to make sure that story is coming across authentically.”
During the conversation, Gillespie also shares her impressions about working in the entertainment industry after a long career as a senior HR executive at machinery and equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, based in Deerfield, Il. The Chicago-raised executive joined Amazon on the corporate side in 2017, shifting to Prime Video and Amazon Studios in 2018.
The challenge of learning a new business in such a glamorous field has been invigorating, Gillespie says.
“I’m always giving advice to other people: If you’re not living life on the edge, then you’re taking up too much space,” she says.
“Strictly Business” is Variety’s weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. New episodes debut every Wednesday and can be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher and SoundCloud.
Related News & Content
-
10 years on, do Sarwat Gilani and Fahad Mirza still get jealous?
10 years on, do Sarwat Gilani and Fahad Mirza still get jealous?,The celebrity couple open up about navigating one of the most common problems in celebrity couple relationships — envy. -
As the Pakistani woman evolves, so do her jhumkay
As the Pakistani woman evolves, so do her jhumkay,A piece of jewellery had to transform because of us, indicating that womanhood is a gradual process, taking all of us where we’re exactly meant to be. -
Motaz Azaiza is representing ‘the voice of Gaza’ with his Time’s most influential people list inclusion
Motaz Azaiza is representing ‘the voice of Gaza’ with his Time’s most influential people list inclusion,The Palestinian journalist extensively documented the impact of the fighting, Israeli aggression and wide-scale destruction of Gaza for over 100 days. -
‘From Gaza With Love’: Jerusalem-born singer Saint Levant rouses Coachella
‘From Gaza With Love’: Jerusalem-born singer Saint Levant rouses Coachella,The singer highlighted the plight of Gaza to a sea of fans sporting keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags. -
Mohamed Bin Zayed receives phone call from Turkish President Erdogan
Mohamed Bin Zayed receives phone call from Turkish President Erdogan,President Erdogan expressed his heartfelt wishes for the UAE and its people for continued well-being, praying to God to protect them from all harm. -
Air Arabia resumes scheduled operations from Sharjah International Airport
Air Arabia resumes scheduled operations from Sharjah International Airport,Passengers who originally booked through travel agents are requested to contact them for rebooking options or refund requests, the airline stated. -
Pakistan ambassador lauds Dubai’s Consulate team efforts in wake of recent rain in UAE
Pakistan ambassador lauds Dubai’s Consulate team efforts in wake of recent rain in UAE,A separate team of the Consulate General also paid a courtesy visit to Pakistani cricket players Misbah-Ul Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Umer Gul and Kamran Akmal waiting at Dubai Airport due to delayed flight en route to Houston, USA. -
Dubai Municipality allocates urgent WhatsApp number 800900 to request water withdrawal
Dubai Municipality allocates urgent WhatsApp number 800900 to request water withdrawal,The municipality said, “We will receive your reports to remove accumulated rain water via WhatsApp 800900. Choose 'Urgent Reports’ then ‘Request for rain water removal. -
Myanmar pardons over 3,000 prisoners on traditional New Year's Day
Myanmar pardons over 3,000 prisoners on traditional New Year's Day,The amnesty is to mark Myanmar's traditional New Year's Day, bringing joy to the people and looking forward to positive relations with respective countries, while addressing humanitarian concerns, it added. -
Carol Kirkwood stuns in figure-hugging dress amid BBC Breakfast technical chaos
Carol Kirkwood stuns in figure-hugging dress amid BBC Breakfast technical chaos,CAROL Kirkwood stunned in a figure-hugging dress amid a technical blunder. BBC Breakfast was flung into chaos this morning after a string of sound issues. However Carol, 61, was all smiles as she p… -
Families ‘to sue prison’ where loud inmates ‘terrorise kids’ with screaming
Families 'to sue prison' where loud inmates 'terrorise kids' with screaming,Residents living next door to a new prison who say their kids have to sleep wearing headphones and some leave during weekends due to the racket are threatening to sue the prison service -
Doctor Strange’s Secret Wars Role May Be More Important Than You Thought – Looper
Doctor Strange's Secret Wars Role May Be More Important Than You Thought - Looper,According to entertainment leaker Alex Perez, Doctor Strange will find himself confronting his inner struggles as he headlines "Avengers: Secret Wars." -
Blondshell and Bully Team Up For New Single “Docket”
Blondshell and Bully Team Up For New Single “Docket”,Blondshell has teamed up with Alicia Bognanno of Bully for the newly released single "Docket." Listen to the track here. -
I’m a clown for not trying Korean beauty secret for glowy skin sooner – don’t worry, I’m not putting cheese on my face
I’m a clown for not trying Korean beauty secret for glowy skin sooner – don’t worry, I’m not putting cheese on my face,A BEAUTY influencer has regrets about not trying out Korean beauty advice for glowy skin sooner. Although the trick can look a little strange at first, she assured viewers that she was not putting … -
‘We are at risk’ – health expert in urgent warning for Irish people over Easter
‘We are at risk’ - health expert in urgent warning for Irish people over Easter,AN URGENT warning has been released to those jetting off over the Easter break. With measles already on the rise, there is an increased risk of a more widespread outbreak in the coming weeks. Trave… -
Black Holes Are Even Weirder Than You Imagined
Black Holes Are Even Weirder Than You Imagined,It’s now thought that they could illuminate fundamental questions in physics, settle questions about Einstein’s theories, and even help explain the universe. -
The odd history of on-hold music
The odd history of on-hold music,We've all been put on hold when we've tried to reach someone. Have you ever thought about the music that plays while you wait? -
‘What Jennifer Did’: Netflix doc explores shocking Ont. murder-for-hire case
'What Jennifer Did': Netflix doc explores shocking Ont. murder-for-hire case,Most of Jennifer Pan's entire life was made up of lies. When her parents began to catch on, she decided to bring in hired hitmen. -
19th century Carlisle House given consent to undergo major renovations
19th century Carlisle House given consent to undergo major renovations,The Gothic Revival property is a Grade-II listed property with origins in the church -
*Opinion* Davy Russell on the Grand National: ‘What a race – it was fantastic’
*Opinion* Davy Russell on the Grand National: ‘What a race – it was fantastic’,Twice Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell shares his thoughts on this year’s race and the changes that have been made
Warning: file_get_contents(https://www.scienceradars.com/wp-output-content.php?pg=1&cat=&kw=&lvl=): Failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 526 in /home/wwwroot/xuenou.com/wp-content/themes/chromenews/template-parts/content.php on line 169
Warning: file_get_contents(https://www.bayuexiang.com/wp-output-content.php?pg=1&cat=&kw=&lvl=): Failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 526 in /home/wwwroot/xuenou.com/wp-content/themes/chromenews/template-parts/content.php on line 173
