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Condé Nast promises changes after coming under fire for race-related issues

Condé Nast has vowed to hire a “global chief inclusion officer” and investigate all claims of pay and workplace discrimination after the publishing giant came under intense scrutiny for race-related issues. The company is promising to hold a town hall series and also to create an “external advisory council focused on anti-racism and inclusion topics,” …

Condé Nast has vowed to hire a “global chief inclusion officer” and investigate all claims of pay and workplace discrimination after the publishing giant came under intense scrutiny for race-related issues.

The company is promising to hold a town hall series and also to create an “external advisory council focused on anti-racism and inclusion topics,” along with other steps to create a more diverse workplace.

On Thursday night, Condé CEO Roger Lynch sent an email to its global staff, seen by Page Six, stating a number of commitments such as “ensuring equitable representation within our content across our print, digital and video,” plus “accelerating our Diversity and Inclusion report” and “introducing our new global code of conduct with an updated anti-discrimination and anti-racism policy later this year.”

They have also promised they will be “investigating and taking fast action on all current and historic claims of pay inequities and inappropriate workplace behavior.”

Adam RapoportPaul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan

Earlier this week, Bon Appétit editor Adam Rapoport stepped down after a photo surfaced of him in “brown face,” and assistant food editor Sohla El-Waylly accused the mag of paying white counterparts for videos, but not paying her for video segments.

Several former employees also came forward on social media with their own stories of racial inequality at the publishing giant. Meanwhile former Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley has been staunchly critical of Condé artistic director Anna Wintour, calling her “a colonial dame … I do not think she will ever let anything get in the way of her white privilege.”

Lynch’s letter says he will hold town halls all this week. “Every day I’ll be setting aside time for open conversations and to make myself available to you,” it states. “I’m committed to listening, answering questions and, together, putting forward a plan of action to change our company and make it the place where you choose to build your careers.”

Continuing, “I want to take this opportunity to reiterate Condé Nast’s commitments to anti-racism, justice and equality — both in our content and in our community. We know change is needed, and it starts with me and the rest of the executive leadership team.”

The letter also states that the company will be “making a contribution and matching employee donations to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund through July 1, and pledging $1M in pro bono ads.”

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