Harsh Words for Cable Diversity

Some food for thought as cable gathers this week to address diversity: "60% of cable companies spin their wheels, invest time and energy and don’t get going" on diversity, says Rosalyn Taylor O’Neale. MTV, HBO and Time Warner are among cable’s few diversity superstars, she argues. Of course, her opinion might be influenced by the fact that she used to work at MTV and now charges corporate clients to help them diversify their workforces. On the other hand, she might have a point, as MTV and its former head Tom Freston (currently co-president and co-COO of Viacom) are often held up as diversity leaders. During her two years as an EVP for diversity at MTV, the company made inroads in promoting executives of color, and launched diversity committees at various management levels. Freston "made sure diversity was visible and inclusive everywhere," O’Neale says. "Not enough people at the top make their diversity efforts visible to everyone. When leaders demonstrate a willingness to look harder, further and longer for talent outside of the usual means, or they engage their employees in addressing what’s not working, diversity comes across and the workplace is transformed." In addition, companies should have clear diversity goals. These and other points are found in her new book 7 Keys 2 Success: Unlocking the Passion for Diversity (Llumina Press, $32). —Simon Applebaum