Guardian News & Media (GNM) believes that improving the diversity of its organisation will mean that it is better equipped to produce meaningful journalism, and to serve its readers and community. The company values and respects all differences in all people, seen and unseen, and aspires to an open, supportive and inclusive culture that makes the Guardian a good place to work for everyone.

Diversity and inclusion forums

GNM has a number of employee-led forums that focus exclusively on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The forums are established in its UK, US and Australian offices, and work closely with senior management to implement policy changes, introduce new opportunities and put on events for staff that focus on key diversity topics, including an annual diversity and inclusion awareness week available to all staff globally.

Race Action Plan

GNM’s UK Race Action Plan, announced to staff in September 2020, commits to actions that encourage transparency and accountability, and improve diversity across the business. Guardian US shared its plan with US employees in August 2020, and Guardian Australia is also working on its own plan.

GNM’s Race Steering Committee, established in 2021, is composed of Guardian senior managers and staff from around the world. The committee raises awareness of race equality across GNM, monitors performance in relation to its race action plan, and holds senior executives and managers to account for actions related to the race action plan.

Ethnicity pay gap reporting

GNM published its first ethnicity pay gap report in December 2019, alongside a series of actions designed to increase representation and close the pay gap. The ethnicity pay gap figures in this report are based on employees who self-reported their ethnicity (84% 2021, 85% 2020, up from 79% in 2019). Efforts to build a complete picture of the diversity of our employees are ongoing. UK ethnicity pay gap reporting can be found here.

Gender pay gap reporting

GNM is committed to reducing gender pay gaps across the organisation, and is working at a country level to report and take action on gender equality. It published its first UK gender pay gap report in March 2018, and committed to reducing the gender pay gap at GNM every year and achieving a 50:50 gender balance in the top half of the organisation. UK gender pay gap reporting can be found here.

Positive action scheme

Each summer the Guardian’s Positive Action Schemes offer placements to individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and to people with disabilities considering a career in journalism. As part of the programme, individuals learn about different aspects of the profession – gaining an insight into the workings of a number of sections across the newspaper and website – and are given access to an experienced journalist for mentoring and career advice.

Programmes run by the Guardian Foundation

The Guardian Foundation’s purpose is to promote global press freedom and access to liberal journalism. By engaging with audiences and educators, in schools and communities, its media literacy work aims to tackle disinformation, enhancing people’s ability to critically evaluate news. Through training, mentorship, bursaries and career guidance, the Guardian Foundation facilitates opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds to use their voice and agency, and be included in the media. By collaborating with fellow journalists and news organisations on areas that challenge its viability, the foundation works to foster its capacity to engage people with fact-based journalism. Established by the Scott Trust, the charity’s programmes complement the work of the Guardian and the Observer. Current programmes include:

The Scott Trust Bursary
This scheme funds three journalism MAs each year for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including living costs, work experience and a mentor, with potential for a nine-month Guardian follow-on contract. Since the scheme began in 1987, many recipients have gone on to successful careers at the Guardian, the Observer and other media outlets.

The Hugo Young Award
A competition championing the best political opinion writing among young people across the UK, by encouraging fresh voices, new perspectives and great writing.

NewsWise & Behind the Headlines
These award-winning primary, secondary and higher-education programmes aim to empower young people to understand, critically analyse, engage with and participate in the media.

Made in Britain
Made in Britain is an ambitious training and video pilot project, working directly with individuals and communities who wouldn’t ordinarily have a voice in the media. Eight talented storytellers were carefully selected to undergo a tailored training programme and join a specialist video unit, empowering them to tell their story. It is a collaboration between the Guardian Foundation, the Guardian’s multimedia team and local organisations across the UK.

Media Makers
Offers six-month placements with digital subscription app Cafeyn and aims to support journalists underrepresented in the sector with the training and experience needed to break into journalism.