Goals and Actions
Staffing & Organizational Culture
Goal: Reflect the diversity of British Columbians
In support of this goal, we began collecting diversity data for current and new staff; diversifying recruitment strategies; and diversifying Knowledge Network's staff composition. Knowledge Network currently employs 50 staff. In fiscal year 2022/23 we made 11 new hires.
Below is our employee composition in 2022/2023 vs 2021/2022 based on self-identification:
Employee Composition:
2022/2023
Note: 16% of respondents selected Prefer not to answer, 14% did not respond.
2021/2022
Goal: Embody a culture of inclusion
In support of this goal, we have reviewed and updated our HR policies and onboarding practices. All management and staff have participated in a range of workshops designed to support and advance cultural competencies, inclusive practices, and awareness towards dismantling of systemic discrimination and understanding the effects of unconscious bias. We recognize that this is ongoing work that requires commitment at both institutional and individual levels. A new slate of workshops will get underway in 2023/24.
Provided cultural-competency training for all staff.
Introduced best practices for onboarding and retention of employees.
Programming
Goal: Reflect and serve the diversity of British Columbians
In support of this goal, we have introduced new data tracking measures for commissioned and acquired programs produced by Indigenous and racialized BC and Canadian producers to inform our programming decisions and facilitate transparent reporting. We have adjusted our international acquisitions strategy to acquire content from a broader range of countries of origin in order to better reflect the diverse lives, interests and backgrounds of our viewers. We have also made changes to our on-air and online look (land acknowledgement, station IDs and promotional campaigns) in order to better reflect the diversity of people and communities from across the province. We have also introduced described video with plans to increase programming available annually.
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Worked with a more diverse range of BC creators in order to ensure BC viewers see themselves reflected in our programming.
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Acquired premium content from a broader range of countries of origin to better reflect the diverse interests of our viewers.
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Introduced Described Video for viewers with visual impairments with plans to grow program inventory over the next 3-years.
Goal: Ensure equitable program commissioning practices
In 2021, we established 3-year reparations-based targets for commissioned projects from racialized and Indigenous BC production companies and introduced a dedicated IBPOC Documentary commissioning stream. Now in year two of this initiative, we are on track to meet our commissioning target of 25% of Knowledge Original documentary features and shorts from BC independent Indigenous production companies and 50% from BC independent racialized production companies.
2022/2023 Commissioned Documentaries
2022/2023 Documentaries in Development
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Implemented a data collection process for BC production company ownership.
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On track to meet reparation commissioning target of 50 per cent of Knowledge Original documentary features and shorts from BC independent racialized production companies.
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On track to meet reparation commissioning target of 25 per cent of Knowledge Original documentary features and shorts from BC independent Indigenous production companies (total commissions, over three years).
Industry
Goal: Establish and leverage strategic partnerships to connect Knowledge Network to the larger network of screen sector organizations that are working towards creating a more equitable and inclusive sector.
Organizations we are working with to advance sector wide commitments include the Black Screen Office, Canada Media Fund; Canadian Media Producer's Association - BC Producers Branch; Creative B.C., DOC-BC/YK/NT; First Peoples Cultural Council; Indigenous Screen Office; National Film Board; the Racial Equity Screen Office.
