The Academy clarifies new membership rules to increase diversity

The Academy announced last week that they were making changes to their membership to increase diversity and now they're speaking out with more specifics about those changes.

The organization took to their website to post an FAQ about the new policies as many Academy members were fearful that they would lose their voting status and questioned the changes.

''We want the Oscars to be voted on by people who are currently working in motion pictures, or who have been active for a long time. There are a number of Academy members, however, who had brief careers and left the business. We want to strengthen, uphold, and maintain the credibility of the Oscars with these new criteria. Voting for the Oscars is a privilege of membership, not a right,'' they explained.

The Academy added, ''The other changes are aimed at increasing diversity in our membership and governance. Under our bylaws, the board is directed to periodically review our criteria for voting status and membership. This has happened in the past and this is one of those times. Diversity has been an ongoing discussion for many years.''

The organization also explained in detail many different ways members can retain voting privileges.

Read the complete FAQ on www.oscars.org