Amazon Studios Axes Inclusion Playbook as Trump Era Challenges DEI Initiatives

Under the current presidential administration, Amazon Studios, along with its parent entity and other major players in the tech and corporate sectors, has phased out its Inclusion Policy and Playbook, which was first introduced in the summer of 2021. This initiative was designed to formalize its ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with the goal of producing content that better reflects the diversity of American audiences.

“Right from the start, we’ve acknowledged that our journey towards diverse and inclusive storytelling would evolve over time. We’re committed to adapting this crucial work in alignment with our dedication to keeping our global audience at the forefront of our operations,” stated an Amazon spokesperson. “Our primary aim remains to deliver outstanding stories, and we endeavor to uplift a variety of voices in our storytelling whenever possible.”

An insider familiar with the developments reported that Amazon had taken down the public-facing inclusion playbook from its website in September, noting that this decision reflects Amazon’s consistent focus on educational initiatives and opportunity creation without being tied down by specific rules or restrictions.

The studio’s inclusion strategy encompassed four key areas with practical suggestions aimed at continually promoting diverse voices across all phases of the production process. These areas included Developing Stories and Characters, Hiring and Production Practices, Reporting and Documentation, and Achieving Objectives with a set of clear targets.

“When we launched our Inclusion Policy and Playbook, Amazon Studios pledged to lead by example in transforming our industry,” commented Jennifer Salke, the head of the studio. “We recognize the immense amount of work needed to enhance representation both in front of and behind the camera, and it begins right here with us. With definitive guidelines and an emphasis on accountability, these resources chart a course towards a fairer industry, both onscreen and off.”

Following the tragic police killing of George Floyd in 2021, Amazon, like many U.S. corporations, embraced DEI initiatives and released progress reports in 2022 and 2023. However, such programs are being scaled back as the Trump administration continues to target these efforts through executive actions and probes.

Other major organizations like the parent company of PBS and NPR have disbanded their DEI efforts, Disney has scaled theirs back, and the FCC is currently investigating diversity programs at NBCUniversal’s parent company, Comcast.

Among the first to retreat were large tech companies. Amazon has removed all references to DEI in its most recent annual report. Meta quickly followed suit in cutting similar initiatives. Notably, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, along with leaders like Apple’s Tim Cook and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, were prominently present at President Trump’s reduced-scale indoor inauguration.

In a memo to employees in December, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s vice president of inclusive experiences and technology, mentioned that the company was eliminating outdated initiatives as part of a comprehensive review of hundreds of programs, as reported by CNBC.