At the start, many of the 87-member group welcomed the chance to clean up their act and fix what was broken. The group was splintered into factions, and only the threat of extinction persuaded some of the more hidebound members to reluctantly approve new bylaws last August that mandated changing their governance and Board of Directors (adding three outside non-members), eliminating barriers for future members and supplementing their ranks with new members of color, requiring sexual harassment and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, banning gifts and paid travel, hiring an independent law firm to handle any grievances, and making all members sign a new code of ethical conduct. Sure enough, the HFPA added 21 new members last October, increasing their members by 20 percent. Now the total membership of 105 are 57.1 percent women, 17.1 percent Asian, 11.4 percent Latinx, and 5.7 percent Black. They no longer have to live in Southern California or write for print publications. The new recruits live all over the United States, and can file their reports (or now, photography) for any foreign television, radio, print, or online outlet. New members can immediately vote on the Golden Globes, participate in board elections, and serve on committees. The HFPA will continue to welcome new members every year, and makes public on its website the names, country representation, and the diversity demographics of its membership. This transformation has morphed the veteran media group, many of whom had lost their cultural relevance, into a more vital organization, and assuming that the Golden Globes returns in January 2023, a changed awards show as well. There are now people of color at every decision-making level in the HFPA. Running the organization for the last year as interim Chief Executive Officer is sports entrepreneur Todd Boehly, who owns Dick Clark Productions, which produces the Globes and has a considerable stake in their continued success. Boehly has steered the HFPA to fashion their new profile, which includes hiring their first Chief Diversity Officer, Neil Phillips. Still underway is a search for new Chief Financial and Chief Human Resource Officers.
NBC But the HFPA made a critical mistake. They did not cull their own ranks. After going through the motions of making all members reapply for membership under eligibility requirements that demanded proof of active employment, whether freelance or staff, the HFPA accredited everyone. Some powerful personal publicists (including forceful Kelly Bush Novak of IDPR) are still holding back their clients, insisting that the HFPA has not gone far enough, as this August a new nine-person credentials committee with more independent outsiders (including Tre’vell Anderson), is vetting old members as well as new applicants. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for the next awards cycle leading to the January 8, 2023 Golden Globes on NBC. Here’s what we know.
