. @Ofcom has published its annual "Diversity and equal opportunities in television and radio 2019/20". Less breaking news and more an anthology of previous broadcasters diversity reports with a little commentary. That said, still makes interesting reading.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/207229/2019-20-report-diversity-equal-opportunities-tv-and-radio.pdf
First interesting point it is has stopped using BAME replacing it with MEG (Minority Ethnic Group). Frustratingly it notes some issues effect Black and Asians differently but still present overall non-white data in general, which a labelling change by itself doesn't address.
The debate around disability also still seems relatively simplistic without looking at how different types of disabilities face different challenges again just presenting overall disability numbers.
The figs are also very interesting but shud carry a MASSIVE health warning. @Ofcom still relies on broadcasters own self reporting & seem to be presenting Diamond data less sceptically than in previous years. All of which are thought to overrepresent diversity due to sample bias.
All the caveats about data collection to one side the report clearly shows year on year change in diversity figures for the first time which is really helpful and seeing it being presented so clearly makes for somber reading.
At the BBC overall 'MEG' numbers have increased 2% year-on-year but remained unchanged at senior level - which means the vast majority of progress has been at lower levels.
For disability overall BBC stats have stayed static and even gone down for senior management.
. @Channel4's overall MEG & disability numbers have gone down and there are so few in senior management that they do not report their numbers.
@ITV saw overall MEG & disability numbers rise but for senior management MEG figs stayed static and were too low to report for disability
. @Skytv had a similar story to ITV with overall MEG & disability figs increasing but either staying static or being too small to report for senior management.
Viacom (channel 5) were the only broadcaster who saw progress in MEG senior management but no where else.
None of these figures break down the diversity of editorial roles and production staff of who is actually making our programmes. @ofcom still doesn't ask broadcasters for this data, relying instead on Diamond data which is highly problematic due to sample bias.
Overall:
No progress on disability & non-White senior positions.
Small progress in non-White figs at lower roles but massively underrepresented considering most media London based.
Relying on Diamond data problematic
Replacing BAME with MEG doesn't solve problems with term.
It is still an important document and people can read it here (also for this thread I didn't go into the reports radio figs - which are equally important) https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/207229/2019-20-report-diversity-equal-opportunities-tv-and-radio.pdf
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