POCAM Visible & Vocal Study Returns for Second Year

People Of Colour in Advertising And Marketing (POCAM) have launched Visible & Vocal for its second year. Visible & Vocal is the first-ever study to exclusively focus on the profile, perspectives, issues and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) in the Canadian advertising and marketing industry.

The 2021 study findings will reflect whether the industry has really changed since 2020 in the areas of micro-aggressions, discrimination, and lack of mentorship. Like Call For Equity, which saw over 100 Canadian creative agencies, companies and brands sign a commitment of 15 actions against racism in the Canadian advertising and marketing industry, Visible & Vocal is another POCAM initiative meant to provide a voice for BIPOC professionals within the field.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of POCAM’s Visible & Vocal study for a second consecutive year. POCAM was created to be a voice of support to professionals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Colour in an industry system that has historically not been inclusionary,” said Julian Franklin of Franklin Management Group, and POCAM steering committee member. “Visible & Vocal is a research study that provides a platform for professionals within the advertising and marketing industry to share their experiences and have their voices heard.”

Launched on November 18, 2021 and available until December 17, 2021, racialized marketing and advertising professionals who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour, and live in Canada, are asked to participate in the study via a 10-minute survey.

The study provides a window into the real-life experiences of BIPOC Canadian advertising and marketing professionals in their own words. A goal of this year’s study is to hear from and be able to representatively reflect, the many ethnic voices and experiences of Canada’s advertising and marketing professionals.

Visible & Vocal 2021 study findings will be released in early 2022, and POCAM will use the study results to examine what actions are needed to advance its mission to ensure the voice, vision and talent of BIPOC professionals are fully and fairly present in Canadian advertising and marketing.

About POCAM: People Of Colour in Advertising And Marketing (POCAM) was founded as an industry organization in 2020 with a mission to ensure the voice, vision and talent of BIPOC professionals are fully and fairly present in Canadian advertising and marketing. With over 1,200 members, POCAM initiatives include the Call for Equity and the Visible & Vocal study. Founded by a team of passionate volunteers, POCAM was incorporated as a non-profit in early 2021.