With a new administration in place, corporate communication around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is changing.
In 2025 alone, the number of large U.S. companies publishing sustainability reports dropped by more than half compared to 2024. DEI has faced similar pushback, with more than 200 S&P 500 companies removing diversity and equality language from reports and surveys.
We pulled data from Qwoted’s network to see if journalists are moving away from these stories, too, or if these conversations continue to hold ground in coverage.
What we found is fascinating.
A Quick Look at What the Numbers Show
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- Over the last 12 months, we received 7,715 ESG-tagged opportunities, or journalists’ requests for expert voices. For instance, when a reporter is covering environmental, social, or governance stories, they can turn to Qwoted’s network to find sources or commentary to strengthen their reporting.
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- ESG makes up ~2% of all media opportunities on Qwoted each month.
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- There was a dip in ESG requests from October to December 2024 during election coverage.
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- ESG requests spiked in January 2025, aligning with Trump’s inauguration.
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- DEI shows steadier momentum than ESG over the past two years.
The Endurance of ESG and DEI
Looking at the past year, ESG and DEI coverage has followed a similar pattern. Both show up in the news cycle month after month, regardless of shifts in the broader cultural landscape.
ESG made up 7,715 media opportunities across our network, averaging about 2% of all opportunities each month.
DEI has been even more prominent, with a consistently higher volume of opportunities across the past two years.
We did see dips during the election season. ESG coverage fell between October and December of 2024 as political coverage took center stage, then rose again in January with the inauguration and renewed debate around climate and sustainability. DEI followed a similar arc, though its steadier baseline suggests it is more embedded in ongoing reporting.
The persistence of ESG and DEI shows that these topics are not fading out even as corporate culture changes. In fact, they’ve become steady beats that continue to appear in coverage again and again.
What This Means for PR Pros
The takeaway here is clear. ESG and DEI should not be treated as passing trends of a bygone era. Even if they aren’t leading the news in a particular month, our network trends show us that these beats often return with renewed interest and urgency.
That means you should:
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- Treat ESG and DEI as evergreen beats. Even as corporate reporting drops off, journalists continue to cover these areas. These conversations aren’t trending opportunities, but rather, part of the ongoing news cycle.
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- Anticipate election-season dips and rebounds. PR teams with clients who cover ESG and DEI should note how election cycles affect coverage. Once political coverage settles, a demand for sources rises again, which is an opportunity for PRs to reintroduce their clients into the conversation.
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- Continue the conversation during quieter months. ESG and DEI coverage never disappears; it only slows down. With a unique angle and perspective, off-cycle moments might give you a better chance to tell your story.
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- Look for ESG and DEI tie-ins beyond the obvious. Even if a client isn’t directly tied to these industries, consider how their work connects to larger themes of equity or sustainability. Thoughtful connections can make your client’s expertise more relevant and open doors to more coverage opportunities.
The Bottom Line
ESG and DEI aren’t merely surviving in a polarized news cycle; they’re proving to be solid cornerstones of the media landscape. If you or your client can speak to these beats and want to make your voice heard, Qwoted is a great place to start. In our network, you can connect directly with media professionals covering ESG and DEI-related stories who are looking for voices like yours.
