Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Are the BBC being racist?
23844802_1351074991685803_1157685921808334590_n.jpg
So being a white person I cannot apply for this role based on my skin colour/ethnicity.
Is this not racism?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Shar on
-
In this case, I'm inclined to say yes. At the least they could have explained why.
It also suggests potential racism in a different way, in that it makes one wonder how many roles at the BBC have the opposite restriction in place, whether or not explicitly stated.
-
Permalink Reply by John D on
-
Apparently the advert was not placed by the BBC but by Creative Access, a pressure group which sponsors highly desirable, paid internships at top media companies, to which white people are excluded from applying. Creative Access claims that non-whites are under represented in the media and seeks to redress this imbalance. It's alleged that Creative Access said that the Tottenham riots should have been reported only by BAME journalists since only they would understand the background to the story.
This may or may not be regarded as justifiable positive discrimination but if this is racism, it is on the part of Creative Access, not the BBC.
-
Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on
-
Permalink Reply by matt on
-
If everyone is given the opportunity for employment there's less chance of problems within wider society breaking out ... such as riots. Just saying.
-
Permalink Reply by DMB80 on
-
Do you work in the industry, Alan? I do, and initiatives like this are badly needed. The TV industry is dominated disproportionately by middle class white men (of which I am one). If we’re ever going to achieve a genuine representation of the society we live in then entry level initiatives like this really are essential. I’ve been lucky enough to build a good career and the colour of my skin has never held me back. People of other ethnicities may not be able to say the same and initiatives like this actively encourage those from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to try and get a foot on the ladder. Is this the best way of addressing the problem? Perhaps not, but it’s a start.
-
-
Hey DMB80. I've set up an initiative doing just this. It's primarily within Film and Advertising. Feel free to get in touch!
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh on
-
As of 2016, according to the Daily Telegraph, the BBC says it employs 13.4% BAME staff.
I've no idea where you get you idea that the Beeb seeks to over-represent 'non-whites' in its workforce. Not only does that sound highly unlikely, as far as I'm aware there is absolutely no evidence for such a claim.
With regards to your call for more white working class individuals to be employed , on my reading of his/her comment that's exactly what DBM80 pointed to - "initiatives like this actively encourage those from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to try and get a foot on the ladder.
-
Permalink Reply by Jacq on
-
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/diversity/pdf/equality-information-repor...
Re percentages, the BBC's are distorted slightly by including World Service staff. It means therefore that staff from BME backgrounds are grossly underrepresented in other areas of output and support services, particularly in leadership roles. As DMB80 says, these sorts of initiatives are badly needed.
To the rest of your point, creative access is one of a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Apprenticeships for example have been creating some amazing entry level opportunities. There's heaps of training schemes and new ways in.
I presume you're going to get as angry that non-disabled people can't apply for the extend scheme as you have on the race issue?
-
-
Thanks for that link, Jacq. In various places the document speaks of "reflecting the UK" and of a "representative workforce". To the extent that those statements can be considered to do so, they seem to me to be speaking very much to the BBC's mission and culture.
-
-
Alan, do you really think that the BBC or any other broadcaster/production company is excluding white people? If you'd like to see their figures so much why don't you do a bit of research for yourself? I'll give you a hand - http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/diversity
Spoiler - the target for 2020 is to have 15% of the work force drawn from BAME backgrounds. I suppose you'll now be outraged that they're not aiming for the proportionately accurate figure of 18%?
-
-
Yes, I saw it. And I see plenty like it on a regular basis. And it doesn’t bother me one bit. As somebody who, I assume, does not work in the TV industry it seems a strange thing for you to be so worked up about...
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah on
-
Oh I thought he wanted to apply for a job in the industry.
White men are a minority after all. 49% of the population are men, and only 80% of them classed themselves as white in the census. So rounding up, I suppose we should strive for a figure of 40% of appointments going to white men. Obviously we're a long way off that target....
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
