The Handbook of Public Sector Communication

23Public Sector Communicators as Global Citizens: Toward Diversity and Inclusion

Marianne D. Sison

Introduction

In a globalized world where the absence or presence of borders has become critical to the flow of information and people, public sector organizations increasingly have to respond and communicate with diverse, mobile, and multicultural stakeholders. Public sector organizations have traditionally focused on “local” constituents within their national borders. However, world events have contributed to migrant flows, which have changed national demographics, making the issue of how public sector communication addresses diversity and inclusion within increasingly multicultural societies ever more salient.

Diversity is defined as being of a “different kind” (Australian Oxford Concise Dictionary, 2004, p. 407). Diversity can refer to people within organizations, or perspectives held by individuals. Together with inclusion, diversity has generated much attention in the global media as it relates to gender equality and increasingly multicultural societies. This increased attention has reverberated in organizations across the private, public, and third sectors. As such, many organizations often articulate “diversity and inclusion” as part of their values statements. Factors that contribute to organizations' focus on diversity and inclusion include globalization, technological advancements, and escalating migration and mobility that demand more international, and intercultural ...