Annenberg Inclusion Initiative

Dr Stacy Smith & team. Tackling tough questions on inclusion in entertainment I

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

Podcasting is dominated by men. Maria Sharapova wants to offer some counterprogramming.

The tennis star’s new podcast, “Pretty Tough,” debuts on April 22 as an alternative to what has become known as the manosphere. It aims to highlight ambitious women. https://t.co/Cpqan4KbQU

[GPS Audiovisual @GPSAudiovisual]

[GÉNERO] Solo hubo nueve mujeres directoras entre las cien películas más taquilleras de Estados Unidos en 2025.
El informe completo, aquí👇🏻
https://t.co/k1NKGblvqR a través de @gpsaudiovisual

[Alliance of Women Film Journalists @AWFJ]

Only nine women (8.1%), among them Emma Tammi of #FiveNightsatFreddys2, were among the 111 directors attached to the 100 top US box office films in 2025, a dramatic drop from 13.4% in 2024, says a new report from @Inclusionists. More here. https://t.co/BWo6cQJ9R6

[CineSpons @ Tribeca Festival @Cinespons]

Happy New Year! Let’s get the female and minority directors back into the big budget directing chairs in 2026! 🥳🥳🥳

@Inclusionists @NYWIFT @WFCC

Thanks @Lionsgate @UniversalPics for films with the highest percentage of underrepresented directors 🙏🎬

https://t.co/GZmPvSPCsS

[Sharon Waxman (follow me on Threads @sharonwaxman @sharonwaxman]

Love, always, interviewing Dr. Stacy Smith of the @Inclusionists who talks straight about the state of equality in Hollywood. #Cannes

[TheWrap @TheWrap]

At the #CannesFilmFestival, Dr. Stacy Smith, Founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, joins TheWrap’s founder and editor-in-chief @sharonwaxman to discuss the Academy’s inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility—calling them ineffective and pointing out that "90–95%" of films already meet the criteria.

“[Passing the Academy’s criteria] is not inclusion […] You can’t expect that to succeed at all when everybody’s already met the criteria.”

⭐️ TheWrap’s Cannes Conversations in partnership with Brand Innovators @BrandInnovators
🗣️ @Inclusionists

Moderated by @sharonwaxman

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

Be still my heart; @franklinleonard on @abbydphillip @CNN . What fun!

[The Cultural Programme @oxfculturalprog]

Women in Film is produced by the Cultural Programme at the @UniofOxford in partnership with Dr Stacy L. Smith, @USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists, and Ghetto Film School @ghettofilm.
.

[Andreea Gleeson @AndreeaGleeson]

🌟 Happy International Women’s Day! 🌟
As we celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world today, I want to take a moment to reflect on the outstanding contributions of women in the music and entertainment industries. One woman who has truly made an impact is Dr. Stacy L. Smith, the founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

Dr. Smith’s groundbreaking work has been pivotal in driving greater gender balance and diversity in entertainment. Her research on gender, race, ethnicity, and other marginalized groups has not only highlighted the disparities in the industry but has also been a catalyst for real, meaningful change. Her work, including the influential 4% challenge and inclusion rider, continues to reshape the landscape of film, TV, and music.

This week Dr. Smith was honored with the 2025 James Irvine Leadership Award, a well-deserved recognition of her tireless efforts to create a more inclusive industry for all. 👏

At TuneCore and Believe, we are proud to partner with Dr. Smith, and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative on sponsoring the Inclusion in the Music Business report. This study focuses on examining the gender, race, and ethnicity of executive leadership in music and is a key part of our commitment to driving meaningful change in the music industry. The report will be published this week so be on the look out for its release.

We are excited to participate in this vital work with Dr. Smith and the Annenberg team to create a more inclusive future, ensuring that women and underrepresented communities have greater access to leadership roles across the music industry.

To all the women who are breaking barriers, making waves, and creating lasting change—today is for you! Let’s keep pushing for equality and lifting each other up every day.

#IWD25 #InternationalWomensDay #GenderEquality #DiversityInclusion #WomenInMusic #WomenInLeadership #AnnenbergInclusion #TuneCore #BreakingBarriers

[The Cultural Programme @oxfculturalprog]

Women in Film is produced by the Cultural Programme at the @UniofOxford in partnership with Dr Stacy L. Smith, @USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists, and Ghetto Film School @ghettofilm. (3/3)

[billboard @billboard]

Barbie Is Honoring Alicia Keys With Her Own ‘She is the Music’ Doll
https://t.co/3eEZ4Z2ikK

[USC @USC]

Lights, camera… equality! A @USCAnnenberg study found that for the first time in 2024, female leads in top-grossing films achieved parity with male leads. @TheWrap spoke with @USCSDA's Stacy L. Smith on what made this shift possible. 💰 https://t.co/17lzn5eF3v

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

2,000 speaking characters are missing in this report. (roughly 4,000 across 100 films). Where are they? And, leads in 2024 are over 50% girls and women.

[Deadline @DEADLINE]

Female Actors Finally Achieve Parity With Men As Leads In The Top-Grossing Films of 2024 https://t.co/Yik2z1oKBn

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

Hey @gma. We love the coverage but it’s 54% of films with a female lead not 42%. #ascj (42 is not a record number).

[Good Morning America @GMA]

Female leads were featured in a record number of 2024 films, according to a new study from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. @reevewill has more.

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

Not a good look. The audience and Gen Z will push back on this strategy.

[TheWrap @TheWrap]

Disney is ditching aspects of its diversity, equity and inclusion program, becoming the latest major company to scale back its DEI operation following President #DonaldTrump’s recent executive order terminating DEI in the federal workforce.

Read more: https://t.co/nw6e3nWTTa

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

BREAKING NEWS: Gender equality achieved in film. Our new report out now! #ascj https://t.co/GzTAxYLRIj

[Annenberg Inclusion Initiative @Inclusionists]

We love @abbydphillip show! Would love to see DEI experts on the show to counter the biases being perpetuated!

[University of Utah Health @UofUHealth]

🎥 How do we protect our mental health while engaging with media? Stacy Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (@Inclusionists) and experts from @uofu_hmhi and @UUtah explore the connection between film and well-being today at #Sundance:
🕓 4 pm
📍Filmmaker Lodge, Park City