Johanna Fuentes

Fuentes champions the network brand for press inclusion in major diversity features. She handles all corporate announcements and external communications, and she takes time to speak with Showtime interns every summer on behalf of the department explaining how corporate communications drives the larger goals of the company. She names Shonda Rhimes and her lineup of shows on ABC as the gold standard when it comes to diversity on television. “It’s the type of casting all other shows should emulate,” Fuentes says.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is… The expansion of streaming apps and over the top services. As audiences find more ways to consume programming and their viewing patterns continue to change – having more access to programming across a multitude of platforms – whether it’s on television, online, on tablets, smartphones and via multimedia devices – only helps those of us who are content to have our viewers watch in whatever manner they choose to… as long as they’re watching!

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
Instead of picking a show or network – I’ll say the producer and showrunner whose success has most recently paved the way for an increase in diverse role on television is Shonda Rhimes. You have doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians and handlers on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Scandal,” “How To Get Away With Murder” and “The Catch” of every gender, race and sexual orientation, truly embracing the meaning of diversity. It’s the type of casting all other shows should emulate. Sentimentally, would also have to choose “Jane the Virgin,” where I see examples of my culture most closely represented.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
I would have to borrow a page from Lyndon B. Johnson: “The Stakes Are Too High For You To Stay At Home.”