Chun leads and directs all corporate development issues related to digital strategy, including related integration efforts with Scripps. He also championed Discovery’s investment in Philo. At Discovery, he promotes diversity and inclusion as a member of the Asian Cultural Alliance, and he recently served as a panelist for the Alliance’s career development and networking event. “The media industry is often described as an insular world; at the same time, it’s an established fact that diverse teams with varied perspectives will tend toward better decision-making vs. those where everyone draws from the same experiences and assumptions,” says Chun.
What’s a recent example of a step forward for diversity in the industry?
It’s heartening to see more diverse representation in high-profile film and television content in recent years – it’s difficult to quantify the effect in concrete terms, but the impact of seeing a wider array of ethnicities portrayed on screen (and in a thoughtful way), will have subtle, but far-reaching impacts on attitudes towards race and inclusiveness going forward. And as TV ratings and box office returns have shown, diversity/inclusion can be good for the bottom line.
In what areas should the industry step up its efforts with regard to diversity and inclusion?
The media industry is often described as an insular world; at the same time, it’s an established fact that diverse teams with varied perspectives will tend toward better decision-making vs. those where everyone draws from the same experiences and assumptions. The industry can continue to improve outreach on the hiring and recruiting front, to ensure a wider pool of people from diverse backgrounds are brought into the tent.
What’s your best advice to someone just entering the video content/distribution industry?
Be prepared for (and comfortable with) constant change. It’s a time in our industry that requires that people (and companies) demonstrate an awareness of the evolving strategic context, nimbleness and a willingness to adapt to change in order to survive and thrive.