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Diversity Dimensions: Career Development 
June Diversity Dimensions By Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR Survey: Gay and lesbian adults more active readers and creators of blogs Gay and lesbian adults online are reading and creating more blogs than their heterosexual counterparts, a recent survey found. Just more than half (51 percent) of gay and lesbian respondents reported reading some type of blog, compared to 36 percent of heterosexual adults. This is a sizable increase from November 2006, when 32 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported reading blogs, according to the survey, released in late April, by Harris Interactive in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic PR and marketing communications firm with expertise in the GLBT market. Gay and lesbian adults are also more active in, and connected to, the blog medium. When asked to choose from a list of online activities, 27 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported posting a comment on a blog in the last month, compared to 13 percent of heterosexuals. In addition, more than one out of five (21 percent) of gay and lesbian respondents said they had written a personal blog in the last month, compared to 7 percent of heterosexuals. The survey found that 28 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported reading news and current issue blogs, compared to 19 percent of heterosexuals. More than a quarter (26 percent) of gay and lesbian adults also read entertainment and pop culture blogs, compared to 11 percent of heterosexuals. Given the increased interest in this year's electoral contests, a significant number, 23 percent, of gay and lesbian adults also read political blogs. In comparison only 14 percent of heterosexual adults reported reading such blogs. Gay and lesbian adults are also more partial to advertisements found on blogs, with nearly 19 percent compared to 8 percent of heterosexual adults saying they felt more positive toward them. "Studies consistently show that gays and lesbians are leaders in online usage, are very keen to find relevant and timely information, and feel more strongly about staying on top of the latest trends," Wes Combs, president of Witeck-Combs Communications, said in a release. "Blogs are fast shaping the media landscape, and it is one medium that marketers and advertisers can't afford to ignore, especially when it comes to reaching gay and lesbian influencers, voters and consumers." The survey also found that a majority (57 percent) of gay adult men online declare they are a member of a social networking Web site, compared to 37 percent of heterosexual men. In addition, two out of five (42 percent) gay and lesbian adults have visited an online social community or network in the last month, compared with roughly one-third (32 percent) of heterosexuals.
Howard University and AAAA join forces to increase inclusion in advertising The purpose of the Center is to increase the number of African-American middle- and senior-level advertising executives and challenge the advertising industry to make diversity a business goal. This new initiative will likely affect several PR agencies if their parent companies join the partnership.
The Center has a fourfold mission:
Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR, is associate dean, research and
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