Warner Bros. Discovery is the latest company to make changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives amid the Trump Administration’s crackdown on the programs.
According to a memo sent to WBD employees on Thursday, the same day as the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report, the company’s “overarching work in this space will now be referred to as Inclusion.” The message, which was obtained by ADWEEK, was sent to all staff from Asif Sadiq, chief inclusion officer, and Jennifer Remling, chief people & culture officer, both of whom lead the company’s head of HR team.
WBD is making the adjustments to ensure it will “continue to comply with the evolving legal landscape in the United States and around the world,” per the memo.
Remling and Sadiq wrote in the memo that renaming the DEI group “better aligns our language with our focus throughout our company, in our industry, and across our content.” The memo continued, saying that the language was being updated to ensure “the intent and impact of our actions are clear; you will see this new approach being updated on wbd.com as well as on our internal channels.”
Along with updating the group’s name, WBD will also have “a uniform and consistent application process across our talent programs,” including internships, mentoring, and other development programs, the memo continued. “All of our programs will be open and welcoming to all applicants, with the goal of cultivating an inclusive home for world-class talent.”
Additionally, WBD will no longer be participating in workplace surveys from third parties, but the company said it will “continue to gather internal data that allows us to understand how our employee base reflects the audience we serve.”
“Telling stories that shape culture and engage people all over the world takes a commitment to diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences,” the two executives wrote in the memo. “Fully representing our audiences is critical to our business, our content, and our culture. We are now, and always will be, committed to ensuring our values underpin how we operate as a company.”
The news comes a day after Paramount announced that it was also updating its DEI initiatives. In a memo sent to staff by co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins, the executives noted the company would be rolling back on its programs amid Trump Administration mandates.