We all need diversity!
At the same time as the PR profession grows, it simultaneously becomes more diverse and inclusive. Recent surveys show that there are already considerably more women working in PR than there are men. And, if anything, this trend is likely to accelerate – the vast majority of PR university students and new entrants to the PR profession are female.

So PR has already broken the mould which restricts so many other professions. But the grant of Chartered status compels us to go even further.

PR is still an overwhelmingly ‘white' profession, with far too few high-profile PR role models from minority groups. One of the key responsibilities borne by the CIPR is to lead the profession, and to help it face up to entrenched problems. The low visibility of minority groups is one such problem.

That is why we have decided to make the theme of encouraging diversity and breaking down barriers to entry one of our key priorities.

The case for diversity
This new section of our website has been specifically designed to help CIPR members tackle the diversity issue. As it develops, we hope it will make the legal and ethical case for increasing diversity within PR, and also show the economic case for diversity. Their lack of diversity often means that PR companies fail to tap into the ‘Brown', ‘Pink' or indeed any other colour of ‘Pound'. While for public bodies, proving that their key external-facing staff represent the communities they serve is now a vital necessity, not a luxury.

We also need to show people from minority backgrounds that PR is a vibrant, rewarding career choice, where their talents will be rewarded and where their background will have no bearing whatsoever on their success. We hope this site will go some way to doing this.

Within this site, you will find:

	Testimonials from successful PR practitioners from minority backgrounds
	Case studies on PR campaigns targeted at diverse audiences
	A resource centre with a list of UK ethnic media, diversity events and news
	Information on the legal aspects of diversity
	A variety of other useful reports and material

We hope this will be valuable to you. We recognise however that this is very much a work in progress, so we would very much welcome any suggestions you might have.

Chris Genasi FCIPR is Vice President of the CIPR and Chief Executive of Eloqui Public Relations