Nielsen announces the launch of its Diverse Media Equity program, which is designed to elevate the visibility of diverse-owned media companies with advertisers and agencies. The comprehensive initiative includes measurement of diverse-owned media historically excluded from investment, funding certification fees of diverse-owned media, as well as the launch of the first ever report on diverse-owned media reach and audience profiles.

“Nielsen is investing in diverse-owned media by getting rid of historical barriers in traditional measurement,” said David Kenny, CEO, Nielsen. “Advertisers and the media industry recognize the need to be more inclusive and want to ensure they reach an audience that is increasingly diverse. We are leading the charge to develop a consistent framework and metrics to help demonstrate the value of diverse-owned media.”

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In collaboration with P&G, Nielsen also seeds a $130,000 reimbursement program with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to help cover the certification fees for diverse-owned media suppliers who qualify. The fund, which will be administered by the NMSDC, will aim to provide nearly 200+ diverse publishers the benefits of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, frequently required by large companies to qualify for diverse investment.

With the demand for ad time on diverse-owned networks greater than ever, the need for equitable resources and information is more critical for many of these local businesses. Canela Media, a Latina owned media company who is part of Nielsen’s pilot initiative, has tripled the number of campaigns measured with Nielsen since signing on.

“We’re excited about Nielsen’s commitment to bringing more visibility and support to minority owned businesses,” said Isabel Rafferty, Founder & CEO of Canela Media. “Our partnership with Nielsen has enabled us to deliver the granular level of transparency and measurement our clients demand. Nielsen has been a tremendous partner; they understand our business and offer us valuable insight for campaign optimization and advertising efficacy.”

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