The organisation says it intends to use its content and significant influence in this area to battle fake news and misinformation online, as well as ensuring its brands and colleagues are truly reflective of its audience.
Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO of Future, said: “Being a responsible business is at the heart of everything we do. Our portfolio of brands gives us the platform and opportunity to influence and inspire people, and to encourage positive change for a more sustainable environment through trusted information and advice.
“We want to build on the work we have already been doing, increasing the representation of diversity through our content and amongst our colleagues, as well as providing opportunities for careers in media for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Future says it already has a track record of delivery in diversity, with editorial inclusion panels operating across the business, an equal gender split between all colleagues across its global business, and the creation of 100 entry level roles targeted to people looking for a route into journalism.
The organisation’s decision to take a stance on the safety of the internet will be founded on a responsible content framework for its brands and a more proactive position on the issues which it hopes will inspire other publishers to follow its example to create an ecosystem of trusted content on the internet which will weaken the web of fake news, says Future.
The strategy, which divides Future’s focus into four pillars, also includes ambitions around achieving carbon neutrality by 2026; this will be achieved through a combination of reduction methods and offsetting.
They are also committing to leveraging their brands’ influence to create positive societal change through their expert content, facilitating lifelong learning for all.
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