Seven launches Reconciliation Action Plan

Seven West Media has announced the launch of its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan.

Endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, Seven’s first Reflect RAP has been developed to strengthen Seven’s relationship with First Nations communities, embed reconciliation throughout the business and provide Seven with meaningful accountability.

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “Seven is very proud to launch its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and receive accreditation from Reconciliation Australia.

“We have already commenced our journey and Seven’s RAP cements our commitment to meaningful reconciliation efforts across Australia.

“As the home of Australia’s biggest and most watched commercial television network and Western Australia’s #1 newspaper, we always strive to use this position to effect positive change,” he said.

Seven West Media Director of People and Culture, Davanh Inthachanh, said: “Diversity, inclusion and driving positive change is at the heart of Seven West Media. That’s why we’re committed to delivering a RAP that enhances our internal capacity and awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, while using our unrivalled national platform to raise awareness and celebrate the culture and histories of First Nations peoples.

“In our journey towards reconciliation, over the coming year we will increase our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement, create Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategies, develop internal policies that enable our people to volunteer time to participate in First Nations peoples charities and community work, and to provide tools, resources and activities to help our people better understand, celebrate and empower First Nations people. We look forward to reporting the progress and next phase of our RAP journey.”

Seven also commissioned emerging artist Brian James Devonshire to create bespoke artwork to reflect its story, titled “Niina Marni.”

“The Rainbow Serpent of life meanders through the regional communities of the states and territories of our Australia. The artwork is also inspired by Seven West Media’s inclusiveness of LGBTQI+ across the organisation, so I took the opportunity to incorporate non-traditional shades in the piece and use more contemporary colours,” he said.

The RAP follows a recent report by Media Diversity which noted Seven as having highest proportion of Anglo-Celtic presenters and could not identify a single appearance by an Indigenous presenter or reporter during its 2 week study.

But Seven also said the data should encompass their entire programming – from current affairs, to reality and entertainment and efforts to employ “professionals from diverse backgrounds across all areas of the business”.

“We hope to work constructively on the next report to ensure that the methodology is more robust and the analysis accurately assesses a representative data set,” a Seven spokesperson said.