ITN hires newsroom diversity champion

ITN aims to develop and promote journalists from underrepresented groups with the appointment of its first editorial diversity partner.

Ronke Phillips, ITV News London senior correspondent, is taking on the role for two days a week in addition to her on-screen reporting and duties as co-chair of Empower, ITN’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic employee network.

Phillips will work with ITN head of diversity and inclusion Lucile Kamar and senior editorial staff across the ITV News, Channel 4 News and Channel 5 News newsrooms, plus ITN Productions, to identify and nurture and help progress the individuals.

“An inclusive workplace doesn’t just have a diversity of people,” said Phillips. “It has a diversity of people involved, developed and empowered.”

Phillips has been with ITV News since 1999 and was a graduate of the ITN News Trainee Scheme.

The appointment follows February’s launch of ITN’s Reciprocal Mentoring Programme, which pairs all senior leadership teams with members of the Empower network.