Golden Globe organisers hire advisers to tackle diversity and ethical issues

It comes after this year's ceremony was overshadowed by criticism over the organising group's lack of black members

Catherine O'Hara with her husband Bo Welch accepts Best Television Actress - Musical/Comedy Series award for 'Schitt's Creek' via video from Christian Slater onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Mark Ruffalo, alongside Sunrise Coigney, accepts the Best Actor - Television Motion Picture award for 'I Know This Much Is True' via video as Justin Theroux stands onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Norman Lear wins the Carol Burnett Television Achievement Award. Presented by Tina Fey onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Jason Sudeikis accepting the Best Television Actor - Musical/Comedy Series award for 'Ted Lasso' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Gal Gadot presents the Best Picture - Foreign Language award for 'Minari' via video to Lee Isaac Chung (on screen) at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Anthony Anderson presents via video the Best Television Actor - Drama Series award for 'The Crown' to Josh O'Connor (on screen) at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Peter Morgan accepts the Best Drama Series award for 'The Crown' via video from Kenan Thompson at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Anya Taylor-Joy (on screen), winner of the Best Actress - Television Motion Picture award for 'The Queen's Gambit' reacts as Rosie Perez presents onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Gillian Anderson accepts the Best Supporting Actress - Television award for 'The Crown' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Jane Fonda accepts the Cecil B DeMille Award onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Chloe Zhao accepts the Best Director - Motion Picture award for 'Nomadland' via video from Bryce Dallas Howard at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Trent Reznor as he accepts the Best Score - Motion Picture award for 'Soul' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman accepts the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for 'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom' on behalf of her late husband Chadwick Boseman at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Renee Zellweger announces the late Chadwick Boseman as winner of the Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama award for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP

Sacha Baron Cohen with Isla Fisher as he accepts the Best Picture - Musical/Comedy award for 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Andra Day reacting after being named winner of the Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama award for 'The United States vs Billie Holiday' via video from Joaquin Phoenix at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Emma Corrin accepts the Best Television Actress - Drama Series award for 'The Crown' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Rosamund Pike accepts the Best Actress - Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy award for 'I Care a Lot' via video at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Laura Dern presenting the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. AFP / NBCUniversal

Host Amy Poehler during the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as Daniel Kaluuya accepts his award. EPA / HFPA

Angela Basset presenting during the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills. EPA/HFPA

John Boyega accepts the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television during the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards. EPA / HFPA

Tiffany Haddish presents during the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony. EPA / HFPA

Cynthia Erivo presents the award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture during the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards. EPA / HFPA

The organisers of the Golden Globes have announced they have hired experts to tackle concerns around diversity and ethics following a furore over the lack of black members.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said that Dr Shaun Harper, founder of the Race and Equity Centre at the University of Southern California, would conduct a review to help develop "a comprehensive, multi-year, diversity, equity and inclusion strategy".

The HFPA said it has also retained a law firm that will develop a system "for investigating alleged violations of our ethical standards and code of conduct".

The moves follow a probe last month by the Los Angeles Times that noted there were currently no black members among the 87 foreign entertainment journalists who make up the HFPA.

The Los Angeles Times also raised long-standing ethical questions over the close relationships between the HFPA and movie studios that may influence the choice of Golden Globe nominees and winners.

The controversy overshadowed the Golden Globes ceremony in February, which is one of the major Hollywood award shows leading up to the Oscars in April.

The HFPA came under fire when the Golden Globe nominations this year failed to recognise some high-profile movies and TV shows by and about black people, including Da 5 Bloods and I May Destroy You.

The nominations did include several actors and directors of colour, and Golden Globes were awarded in February to three black actors, as well as Chinese-born director Chloe Zhao for her film Nomadland, which also won the top prize for best drama film.

The HFPA said on Tuesday that it was committed to "fostering an environment that better reflects our core values" and that "restores faith, trust and confidence in our organisation".