Medium Stays Committed to Diversity and Inclusion Amid Industry Changes

Medium, the popular publishing platform founded by Twitter cofounder Evan Williams, is making a pretty bold move to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This pledge comes despite the fact that many U.S. tech firms are scaling back their DEI efforts. The company continues to be serious about its commitment. It takes the artful plunge into the changing media environment and the intimidating wall that recent political developments have created.

In July 2022, Evan Williams assumed the position of designated board chair. While maintaining his day-to-day engagement with the company, this transition positioned Tony Stubblebine to step into the role of CEO. Under Stubblebine’s leadership, Medium has made great strides in boosting diverse voices in its community.

“Perspectives of people from marginalized communities are essential viewpoints that deserve to be heard,” stated an anonymous executive at Medium. This perspective aligns with the company’s mission to create a platform where various voices can flourish, enriching the reader’s experience.

With more than a million paid subscribers, Medium provides a lively space to experiment. Currently, every month it draws about 100 million of them—readers and writers alike. Stubblebine added that the people who seek Medium out for ideas and inspiration see diversity as an asset, not a danger. He went into further detail on this important point. He wrote, “As an Asian-American CEO, I can assure you that seeking diversity as a fundamental strategy adds to the business, cultural, and intellectual strength of our enterprise.”

Unlike some competitors in the publishing space, such as Substack—which has faced criticism for allowing controversial figures, including white nationalists, to utilize its platform—Medium has taken a more inclusive approach. While Substack promotes a “free speech” moderation policy, Medium’s commitment to DEI sets it apart in an industry grappling with complex social issues.

With increasing political pressure, many tech firms are retreating from their DEI efforts. In all other respects, the company is the exception — one of the last remaining companies that still values diversity, equity and inclusion. The company reported its first profitable month last summer, showcasing that their business strategy centered around diversity is not only socially responsible but economically viable.