Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity, & Inclusion Statement
Effective Date: November 1st, 2025
Equal Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Our Core Belief
At Popcorn & Pages, we believe stories shape empathy and empathy builds communities.
Film is a reflection of the world we live in, and the people who write about it should reflect that world too.
That’s why we’re committed to creating a workplace, creative network, and publication that celebrates diversity in all its forms and ensures equity, safety, and opportunity for everyone.
Our work — from reviews and features to interviews and editorials — reaches audiences who care about culture as much as craft. That responsibility begins behind the scenes, with who we hire, how we collaborate, and whose voices we amplify.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
Popcorn & Pages is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We do not discriminate or tolerate discrimination of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Employment, collaboration, and partnership decisions at Popcorn & Pages are based entirely on talent, merit, and creative alignment with our mission — never on personal characteristics or background.
Our equal opportunity policy applies to every stage of participation and employment, including:
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Recruitment and hiring
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Contributor and contractor selection
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Compensation and promotion
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Access to mentorship and training
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Editorial opportunities and publication representation
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Performance evaluation and advancement
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Event participation and public representation of the brand
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Vision
Diversity is the foundation of good storytelling.
We believe every culture, identity, and perspective adds to the richness of the global film conversation.
To us, equity means creating access where it hasn’t always existed and removing barriers that have kept too many talented voices from being heard.
Our goal is to nurture a community of critics, creators, and professionals who come from a variety of lived experiences and can bring fresh, authentic perspectives to the screen and the page alike.
Our Ongoing Initiatives
We know that diversity and inclusion are not one-time goals, they’re daily practices. To that end, Popcorn & Pages has implemented and continues to grow the following initiatives:
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Open Submission Access
Anyone can pitch, regardless of formal credentials or affiliations. We welcome voices from non-traditional backgrounds, emerging writers, and independent filmmakers. -
Mentorship & Development
We are establishing pathways for new and underrepresented writers to gain editorial experience through mentorship programs, writing workshops, and collaborative editing sessions with senior contributors. -
Inclusive Coverage Standards
Our editorial policy encourages balanced coverage across race, gender, geography, and scale — meaning we highlight not just Hollywood blockbusters, but also independent, international, and under-seen stories. -
Equitable Compensation Transparency
As we grow, we will maintain clear, fair, and public contributor pay structures to ensure accountability and eliminate disparities in compensation and credit. -
Community & Industry Partnerships
We actively seek partnerships with organizations, collectives, and festivals dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices in film and media — from regional filmmaker networks to advocacy nonprofits. -
Internal Learning & Awareness
Our editorial and management teams participate in continuing education about bias, accessibility, inclusive storytelling, and ethical journalism to ensure awareness translates into action. -
Representation in Leadership
Our goal is to ensure that diverse perspectives are not only represented across our content but within our decision-making. Representation must exist at every level — from writers to editors to leadership roles.
Accessibility & Accommodations
We are committed to fostering a creative environment that is accessible to everyone.
If you are an applicant, contributor, or employee who requires a reasonable accommodation at any point in the process — whether for a disability, mental health need, or any personal circumstance — we will work with you to ensure equal access and comfort.
Requests can be made confidentially at accessibility@popcornandpages.com. Accessibility is not a courtesy, it’s a core standard of our operation.
Accountability & Growth
True inclusion requires humility and continuous self-assessment.
We are building internal systems to measure our progress, track representation, and ensure that our mission of equity remains actionable, not aspirational.
We invite feedback from our staff, contributors, and audience to help shape this process. Constructive dialogue keeps us accountable — and accountability drives growth.
Each year, Popcorn & Pages will review its internal diversity metrics, evaluate hiring and publication patterns, and make those learnings public as part of our transparency initiative.
Community & Culture
Our workplace culture is built on respect, empathy, and collaboration.
We value curiosity over competition and creativity over hierarchy.
We encourage open discussion, mutual learning, and compassion in all forms of communication.
We celebrate individuality — the accents, the humor, the quirks — because that’s what keeps our storytelling human.
Everyone at Popcorn & Pages should feel safe to bring their authentic self to the conversation, whether they’re reviewing a blockbuster, dissecting a micro-budget short, or writing their first feature essay.
Our Long-Term Goals
As Popcorn & Pages continues to grow, we are committed to expanding this framework into measurable, sustainable initiatives, including:
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Launching a “Voices in Film” Fellowship Program for underrepresented emerging critics and filmmakers.
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Funding Film Access Grants to support creators whose stories champion cultural, social, or regional representation.
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Implementing annual inclusivity audits across editorial content and hiring practices.
At Popcorn & Pages, diversity isn’t just good ethics, it’s good storytelling. We are stronger, smarter, and more creative when our pages reflect the world our readers live in.
Our commitment is simple:
To build a publication — and a workplace — where every voice is heard, every background is valued, and every perspective has space to shine.
Popcorn & Pages is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and an advocate for equity in entertainment journalism and beyond. Together, we’ll ensure that the stories lighting up our screens come from all corners of the world — and all walks of life.