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Supporting business diversity

5 minute read | August 2023

Nielsen provides pro-bono consulting in first virtual โ€œconsulta-thonโ€ for diverse-owned businesses

While most small businesses struggled financially during the pandemic, diverse-owned businesses were hit the hardest. As part of Nielsenโ€™s commitment to supporting diverse-owned media companies, Nielsen hosted a โ€œconsulta-thonโ€ on Global Impact Day 2022. Nielsen volunteers offered pro-bono consulting services to diverse-owned companies, helping them to create pitches and marketing strategies to engage investors and advertisers.

Ashton Media Group, KSDY and Latino Hustle Group, all diverse-owned, ad-supported media companies, joined Nielsen for the consulta-thon: each of them bringing a specific project to consult with Nielsen specialists about. The companies brought their media kits โ€”looking for assistance in their digital storytelling, media kit improvements, and for recommendations in pitching. Ashton Media Group received a media plan from the Nielsen team which addressed  privacy concerns, reassuring audiences of the steps taken in their data privacy. Nielsen refreshed KSDYโ€™s media kit with updated language, insights into the primary audience, recommended sponsorships for their news channels, and promoting their shows, team, and channelsโ€”all supported by Nielsen data. Nielsen equipped Latin Hustle Group with a campaign focused on engaging Las Vegas Hispanics for their radio station, Fiesta! 98.1.

โ€œOffering Nielsen employees the opportunity to contribute our expertise to empower diverse-owned media companies was the highlight of the year,โ€ said Stacie de Armas, SVP, Diverse Insights and Initiatives. โ€œWe rolled out the program earlier in the year but seeing my colleagues dig deep into it and connecting directly with the companies showed that we are truly making a difference.โ€

As part of our diverse-owened media program, Nielsen is also partnering with the  National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to reimburse the certification costs for companies to become a Minority Business Enterprise. This certification elevates minority-owned companies, helping them stand out to corporate members who are looking to connect and partner with MBEs.