Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising

Several journals have dedicated special issues to examine important topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (e.g., Eisend, Rosengren, Mueller-Bryson, and Buzeta 2023), as well as activist and inclusive advertising ( e.g., Viglia, Tsai, Das and Pentina 2023). However, less work has examined the actual impact of inclusive advertising and the current challenges facing inclusion efforts in industry and academia.

Recent advertising scholarship has called for a focus on driving impact (Zayer, Coleman, and Gurrieri 2023), identifying four types of social impact from inclusive advertising and introducing the Inclusive Advertising Spectrum. However, disruptions in the socio-cultural, political, and technological landscape as well as high-profile controversies from brands such as Bud Light and Target have made these social impact efforts even more difficult. Some brands and organizations have even backed away from diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives in 2023 (Calfee 2023), while various groups such as the aging population, those with disabilities, religious organizations, and people with lower socioeconomic status, question being included in DEIB conversations (La Ferle, Muralidharan, and Roth-Cohen 2022; Muralidharan, La Ferle, and Roth-Cohen 2024; Nicholson 2022; Norman 2022; Taylor 2021; Timke 2019 & 2023).

This special issue calls for continued momentum on the intersectional and humanizing aspects of advertising and advocates for a focus on the impact of inclusive advertising and DEIB efforts and the current challenges to these efforts (Berman et al. 2023). These barriers can include structural, systemic, and interpersonal obstacles and as well as different understandings of inclusion.

We invite scholars to contribute original conceptual or empirical work based on qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches. We especially encourage scholars engaged in collaborative research between academia and industry to submit their work. Scholars may define inclusive advertising and DEIB specific to their area of research within individual bodies of work.  Topics of interest include (but not limited to):

• Better articulation of the impact of inclusive/activist/DEIB advertising efforts, including financial and social impact.
• The role of academic, industry, and public policy stakeholders in collaborative efforts to maximize social impact with an inclusion focus.
• Examination of backlash or backtracking of DEIB efforts within organizations (e.g., advertising agencies) or innovative efforts to advance DEIB in agency culture.
• Structural, systemic, and interpersonal barriers in advancing equity in the advertising industry.
• Current disruptions in the societal and advertising landscape and how to overcome these challenges as related to inclusive advertising.
• Recent consumer perceptions and responses to diversity and inclusion in advertising, especially as it relates to intersectional identities and their impact on well-being.
• Ethical considerations in relation to inclusive advertising and social impact.
• Future directions for social impact in the advertising industry, academic arena, or research avenues concerning inclusion.

Scholars from across the globe are encouraged to submit papers by September 1, 2024.

Manuscripts must be prepared according to the journal’s formatting style. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process and must be submitted for the special issue through ScholarOne. Please direct any inquiries related to this special issue to the guest editors.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article