Best Practices in Intercultural Communication That Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Three New Zealand Media Workplaces

Abstract

This study investigates the application of intercultural communication knowledge in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within three prominent New Zealand media organisations – TVNZ, NZME, and Stuff. Using the Aotearoa Inclusivity Matrix (AIM) framework, the research examines how these organisations use the seven DEI components in the workplace: leadership, diversity infrastructure, diverse recruitment, inclusive career development, bi-culturalism, inclusive collaboration, and social impact.

A qualitative thematic analysis identifying the DEI components was conducted on 348 publicly available data items, collected across paid, earned, shared, and owned (PESO) media. Each DEI component was critically assessed using an aligned intercultural communication theory to determine the extent of theory-informed practice.

The findings revealed the presence of all seven DEI components in the organisations in varying measures of priority, shaped in part by their ownership structures. The most prioritised practices included social impact and inclusive career development. Inclusive collaboration and diverse recruitment practices showed an overall low presence across the organisations, particularly during periods of restructuring.

The study highlights that while intercultural communication theory is implicitly present in many DEI initiatives, its explicit and strategic application is inconsistent. The findings advocate for a more deliberate integration of intercultural communication knowledge into DEI policies to ensure sustainable, culturally responsive practices. These insights contribute to the growing discourse on the value of DEI in workplaces by proposing a strong theoretical framework of intercultural communication knowledge to support the effectiveness of DEI in organisational practices, thereby offering guidance for media and other industries in multicultural contexts.