The new division, led by Georgia Arnold, SVP of Social Responsibility, will focus on climate, equity and health issues and promote diverse content and creators. Protestas y Progresos (3x’60) is the first series in this new unit produced for Paramount + by photographer and social activist Misan Harriman.
VIS Social Impact, part of ViacomCBS Content for Change initiative that aims to counter racism, prejudice, stereotypes and hatred through a corporate culture, will develop global content driven by social impact that addresses climate, equity and health for the portfolio of brands of ViacomCBS, Paramount + and third parties.
Raffaele Annecchino, President and CEO of VCNI, commented: ‘For decades, we have told stories that matter and understand the critical role entertainment plays in shaping minds and ultimately driving change. Now, with VIS Social Impact, we will harness the power of storytelling to challenge stereotypes, change perceptions, and create meaningful change in critical areas such as climate, equity, and health. Through ViacomCBS’s huge global presence and the work of this new studio, we have a responsibility to raise the voices that need to be heard and to use our content to make a tangible impact on the world’s greatest challenges’.
The VIS Social Impact division is led by Georgia Arnold, SVP of Social Responsibility at ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), who brings decades of experience in behavior change as CEO and co-founder of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, whose goal is to protect young people from everything. the world against HIV and improve your sexual and reproductive health. She is also the executive producer of the MTV Shuga, starring Lupita Nyong’o and Thuso Mbedu, which fuses messages of sexual health with gripping stories about intimate relationships between young people.
JC Acosta, President of ViacomCBS International Studios and ViacomCBS Networks Americas, added: ‘Georgia is a leader in the social responsibility space because of her proven track record of driving innovative social impact initiatives for our brand. The creation of this division is a natural evolution for ViacomCBS and further strengthens our commitment to producing the best content by addressing the issues that matter most to our audiences around the world’.
The first commission is Protestas y Progresos (3x’60) by Misan Harriman, a world-renowned photographer and social activist who makes history. In the documentary series, which premieres late next year on Paramount +, Harriman travels the world to uncover the stories behind some of the most powerful images and art forms that have defined a moment and a movement. Her goal is not only to educate about the importance of protests, but also to inspire the public to remember that her voice is important.
‘It is an honor to be among the first commissions of VIS Social Impact and to have the opportunity to present the power of photography and art to a global audience at Paramount +. This is an exciting project that explores how a single image can reflect and influence society and inspire hope’, highlighted Harriman.
Additionally, VIS Social Impact will advocate for diverse creators and content focused on underrepresented communities. It will kick off this work with the launch of an idea-focused writers room with scripts driven by Anglophone African writers who identify as non-binary and / or gender non-conforming. It will be directed by actor, writer and director Thishiwe Ziqubu, who concluded: ‘As a non-binary genre creative, spaces where our voices are heard for their sheer artistic truth is imperative. Free space for the expression of our individual lived experience is rare. I look forward to the tapestry of ideas emerging from this room of black storytellers with a unique voice’.
