British Broadcasting Corporation Race Equality Scheme
BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement)
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- Public function: Reports and accounts about the commercial services
- Other BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement)
- 6 The BBC’s broader approach to promoting race ethnic and cultural equality
- 6.1 BBC Diversity Strategy
- 6.1.1 Diversity Strategy – Corporate Strategy
- 6.1.2 Diversity Strategy - Audiences
- 6.1.4 Diversity Strategy - Workforce
BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement)Public function: Making the UK public services widely availableFor more detail on this public function and the related actions, see Section 9, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii), of the Race Equality Scheme. Public function: Code relating to provision for deaf and visually impaired people and power to modify targets For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see Section 9, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii), of the Race Equality Scheme. Public function: Reports and accounts about the commercial servicesFor more detail on this public function and the related actions, see Section 9, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii), of the Race Equality Scheme. Public function: The BBC may be requested to broadcast or distribute announcements in relation to defence and emergency arrangements For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see Section 9, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii), of the Race Equality Scheme. Other BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement)Public function: Making the UK public services widely available For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see section 8, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii). Public function: Code relating to provision for deaf and visually impaired people and power to modify targets For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see section 8, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii). Public function: Reports and accounts about the commercial services For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see section 8, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii). Public function: The BBC may be requested to broadcast or distribute announcements in relation to defence and emergency arrangements For more detail on this public function and the related actions, see section 8, Action Plan, Part 3 (ii). 6 The BBC’s broader approach to promoting race ethnic and cultural equalityThe Race Equality Scheme is limited to how the BBC applies the Race Equality Duty to its public functions. However, while not within its legal obligations, the BBC ‘s Diversity Strategy aims to integrate consideration of equality and diversity, including race equality within everything it does. The BBC aims to promote race equality generally through seeking to understand and meet the specific and diverse requirements of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and by ensuring that they are consulted with in order to achieve fair and equal outcomes for all sections within those communities. This approach is based on the BBC’s Diversity Strategy and is underpinned by its core values: Audiences, Respect and Working Together. It is also driven, in part, by the specific duties relating to equal opportunities which are placed on the BBC by the BBC Charter and Agreement (ref. Charter Articles 44 (1) (a) and (b) and (2) (b), and Agreement Clause 83). 6.1 BBC Diversity StrategyThe BBC’s diversity strategy outlines the Corporation’s overall approach and priorities for action in terms of equality and diversity, including race equality. The strategy defines diversity as a creative opportunity for the BBC to connect with all UK audiences in all their diversity. The strategy has four main areas of activity, aimed at integrating diversity into:
Corporate strategy – how the BBC meets its six public purposes and plans for the future Audiences – how the BBC engages with all audiences in all their diversity Output and content – how the BBC authentically reflects the diversity of the nation Workforce – how the BBC promotes a diverse workforce across the organisation and at all levels Set out below are examples of activity, against the key areas of the Diversity Strategy which aim to promote and enhance equality. 6.1.1 Diversity Strategy – Corporate StrategyRace equality sits firmly within the BBC’s Diversity Strategy. This key area of the strategy is concerned with integrating diversity within how the BBC plans for the future and priortises: Mainstreaming diversity into how the BBC operates by for example, building routine consideration of diversity through strategic and business planning, major projects and policy development (eg BBC North, Digital Switchover and key partnerships). Ensuring that the BBC remains compliant with current equality legislation, eg having up to date Equality Schemes in place, and providing reasonable adjustments for disabled staff. Communicating and sharing examples of good practice on diversity across the organisation and beyond via partnership and collaborative working. Examples of activity here are: All BBC divisions are required to develop a Diversity Action Plan which sets out the practical steps they are taking to implement the Diversity Strategy. The action plans address each of the four headline areas: corporate strategy, audiences, output and content, and workforce planning. Diversity Champions across the organisation drive this process within their divisions, supported by Diversity Action Groups. The Diversity Centre monitors progress against the Diversity Strategy across the organisation and reports to Diversity Board, chaired by Mark Thompson, the Director-General. The BBC is a member of the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) alongside Sky, Five, Channel 4, GMTV, SMG, ITN, ITV and Pact, a network of broadcasters promoting cultural diversity both on and off screen. The network aims to facilitate real change and to liaise with both performers and decision-makers to keep diversity at the top of the agenda. Last year, the BBC worked with other broadcasters to develop the CDN Diversity Pledge to encourage diversity commitment across the independent sector. The BBC expects its suppliers to sign up to the initiative. The BBC and Channel 4 now have a Pact Diversity Advisor whose role is to persuade Pact members to sign up to the Diversity Pledge and undertake the activities outlined in it. The BBC has also supported the CDN Portrayal Monitoring Research commissioned by Channel 4 and designed to help move towards a single portrayal measurement framework, agreed across broadcasters. The BBC also participated in the CDN Mentoring Scheme, an initiative open to black and minority ethnic people with proven experience in any area of programme making or broadcasting. Successful applicants received 12 months mentoring from leading figures within the creative industry. 6.1.2 Diversity Strategy - AudiencesFor the BBC, recognising the cultural impact of multi-ethnic Britain and reflecting this back in our output and portrayal, will help us improve our relevance and credibility with black and minority ethnic people. In an effort to connect with our audience, BBC 1Xtra and BBC Blast teamed up to give young people who were not in education or employment or training the chance to progress their career options and take over the station’s airwaves for a day. Through the U Takeover training scheme, 22 participants, aged 18-24 spent three months developing their radio and online production skills in preparation for a full day of 1Xtra radio and online which took place last September. Participants were mentored by 1Xtra producers, DJs including Trevor Nelson, Target and Rampage, tasked with building a schedule of music programmes and documentaries for broadcast, including a pre-recorded Maida Vale session. The project culminated in a two week placement at 1Xtra in September 2009. BBC Birmingham produced an excellent website for Ramadan, including a daily blog from a non-Muslim who chose to fast in order to learn more about the experience. BBC Hausa is giving mobile phones to villages as part of an innovative solution to connect with seldom heard audiences in Nigeria. Via Labarinku A Tafinku (Your News in Your Palms), local people can send in reports and pictures about themselves and their communities. The programme has been rolled out in six villages in northern Nigeria. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform contacted the BBC last year to discuss the level of consideration we give to Gypsy and Traveller communities. We have responded to the issues raised and programme makers are now exploring the creative opportunities in working with this community. 6.1.3 – Diversity Strategy - Output and content The BBC strives to make programmes that reflect the reality of our society through honest and authentic representation of our diverse audiences. Below are examples of the BBC increasing its commitment to the inclusion and portrayal of black and minority ethnic people on screen and on-air: Radio Writer Kenan Malik explored how the perception of Islam has been shaped by the media in BBC Radio 4’s Islam, Mullahs and the Media. In Youssou N’Dour at 50: Africas’s Star on BBC Radio 4, Robin Denselow profiled the musician Youssou N’Dour for, as he reached his 50th birthday, and travels to Senegal to interview the singer in his home city of Dakar. N’Dour has been making music for nearly 40 years and has collaborated with many international artists. BBC Radio 4’s Between Ourselves, Shazia Mirza and Paul Senna with Olivia O’Leary talked about being Asian comedians. On the set of her new film, director Gurinder Chadha told the story of her dual nationality and how it has enriched her hit films in BBC Radio 4’s Gurinder, The Movie. Beauty of Britain, Radio 4 – A comedy by Christopher Douglas and Nicola Sanderson about one woman’s progress through a foreign country as she searches for personal fulfilment. It shows the process from the point of view of an economic migrant, Beauty Olonga whose Southern African Shona background has taught her to respect age. From Harvey River was Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4. Donna Croll read from Lorna Goodison’s portrait of past generations of her unconventional family in Harvey River, Jamaica. As part of World Routes on BBC Radio 3, Lucy Duran presented highlights from the 2009 Gnawa and World Music Festival in Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Last year, The BBC Proms included a number of musically diverse performances. DJ and Drum and Bass producer Goldie revealed a specially written, Darwin inspired work, his first ever for a classical orchestra, ukuleles and Indian Voices all broadcasted live on BBC Radio 3. Radio 5 Live’s Up All Night presenter Dotun Adebayo received an MBE from the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace for his services to the arts. BBC World Service’s Save Our Sounds won gold for the Best Cross-Media Promotion or Campaign at the Radio Academy Promotions & Marketing awards. The project was produced in conjunction with the BBC World Service and AudioBoo, allowing users from around the world to upload endangered sounds for example from places such as London, Delhi, Beijing and New York, directly to the site for playback online and in broadcast. Television BBC Persian TV celebrated its first anniversary on January 14th 2010 in which time it has already secured an excellent reputation. BBC Persian TV won the Hot Bird Award for Best News Channel of 2009. The channel also won an award for the clearest coverage of a single news event for the Iranian elections. BBC World News won best investigative documentary for Korea: Out of the North CBeebies commissioned two major new series celebrating diversity and culture across the UK: Let’s Celebrate and Same Smile. Let’s Celebrate visited different UK communities each episode by visiting a family or group of children who were getting ready for a festival – be it dressing up, decorating the house, preparing food. The story behind the festival is incorporated. Festivals featured in the series included Vaisakhi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Holi, Vesak, Purim, Diwali, Easter, St Patrick’s Day, St David’s Day, St Andrew’s Day and Norouz. Same Smile, created for two to four year olds offered a window on the world of young children and celebrated the diversity of their lives.
In order to help us meet our Public Purpose objective of ‘representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities’, it is vital that we attract and retain the greatest diversity of people to work for us, from all ethnic origins, cultures and communities and capitalise on the advantages that those skills, talents and life experiences bring to our organisation. The BBC has set targets for ensuring that diversity is reflected on and off air, supported by a number of initiatives aimed at promoting diversity in the workforce and in output and content. The current ethnicity workforce targets, to be met by December 2012 are: 12.5% for black and minority ethnic staff overall (12.2% as at 28 February 2010) 7% for ethnic minority staff at SM1 and SM2 grades (5.6% as at 28 February 2010) The BBC is not complacent about its progress to date on ethnicity, and recognises that there is more work to be done to achieve a diverse workforce, particularly at senior management level. The BBC has invested in a number of key initiatives to help meet our workforce targets. These include: The Mentoring and Development Programme for potential high fliers. 50% of places on the scheme are ring fenced for black and minority ethnic staff. The Journalism Trainee, and Talent Pool - The Journalism Talent Pool,a programme which aims to attract talented working journalists, made the Race for Opportunity “Widening the Talent Pool” award shortlist in 2009. This relates to a programme/work or initiative which increases the diversity of ones workforce, this can be activity linked to outreach, recruitment, progression, development. Even though the initiative was unsuccessful in wining the award, JTP represents a strong diversity initiative for the BBC. Targeting diverse communities through our recruitment advertising, careers fairs and outreach activities. Linking with universities and education institutions attended by diverse people. Using the BBC’s move to Salford as an opportunity to attract diverse people to work with/for the BBC. Holding open sessions in different parts of the UK to encourage groups under-represented in the BBC to apply. Playing an active role in industry networks aimed at creating a skilled and diverse workforce across broadcasting. The BBC is a member of Race for Opportunity (RFO), a part of Business in the Community which offers tailored, pragmatic advice to public and private sector organisations, on promoting race equality. 2009 represents the 6th year in which the BBC has taken part in RFO’s benchmarking scheme which compares organisations on their record on race equality. The BBC achieved silver standard this year and ranked 13th overall and 3rd in the Media, Communication and IT sector. However, we scored lower on supplier diversity and this is an area which we hope to address. Download 0.85 Mb. Share with your friends:
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