Bertelsmann has a written policy requiring suppliers not to discriminate on the basis of LGBTQ identity (1). Bertelsmann has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on views or beliefs.

Bertelsmann does not have a charitable giving program.

Bertelsmann does not have a written policy to protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).

Bertelsmann subsidiary, Penguin Random House (PRH), has an extensive history of LGBTQ and DE&I advocacy. PRH has posted lists of books that promote the celebration of Pride and LGBTQ history (1)(2). PHR has a page dedicated to LGBTQ books, featuring categories like “Books for Kids That Explore Queerness” and “Baby’s First Queer Books” (3). The US, Canadian and UK PRHs have made statements sympathizing with the BLM movement (4)(5)(6). PRH held several live events featuring advocacy for the BLM and LGBTQ movements in June of 2020 (7). Bertelsmann embraces ESG principles, including the UN Global Compact (8). In 2021, the Bertelsmann Content Alliance launched a campaign called “Yes to the Truth. Because it has to be true.” media campaign aimed at promoting “fact-oriented, responsible, and transparent” journalism and fighting “alternative” facts (9). The Bertelsmann Content Alliance named September “Climate Month” since climate change is “one of today’s most important issues” (10). RTL Deutschland, owned by Bertelsmann, started the Alliance Against Fake News. The company has “assign[ed] an internal team of experts to verify the authenticity of news content” to disseminate warnings about “fake news content” to all local news divisions (11)(12). Annabelle Yu Long, the Chief Executive Officer of Bertelsmann China Corporate Center and Managing Partner of Bertelsmann Asia Investments, is an active member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Advisory Council and is also a member of its Global Agenda Council on the Future of Media, Entertainment & Information. This Council works with media organizations to drive the adoption of new business models in regard to “content creation, monetization, advertising, distribution and consumption” and works toward “enabling digital safety by removing misinformation and harmful content” and promoting “the role of media in enabling social justice and improving diversity and representation in creative production (13)(14). In 2016, Bertelsmann gave the Reinhard Mohn Prize 2016 for Responsible Entrepreneurship to Klaus Schwab, the “chairperson” of the World Economic Forum (15). The Bertelsmann Foundation frequently publishes content critical of “misinformation” and “disinformation” (16)(17)(18).

In 2020, PRH Canada made significant donations to organizations that fight for racial injustices, in light of the BLM movement (1). In 2022 PRH donated up to $30,000, to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ Saves, and the Zebra Coalition” (2).

Bertelsmann does not make political contributions.