Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry blasts Ofcom 'Fake Diversity' targets

Speaking at an event at the Houses of Parliament earlier this week, RTS Fellow Lenny Henry criticised new Ofcom diversity targets which only focus on those in-front of the camera, saying that it would promote “fake diversity”.

In the speech, attended by members of parliament, the public and representatives of the broadcast industry, he argued that the regulator should also require the BBC to report on the number of BAME staff working behind the scenes.

Lenny Henry’s production company acquires rights to My Name is Leon

Sir Lenny Henry’s production company, Douglas Road Productions, has acquired the broadcast­­ rights to the novel which follows the story of nine-year-old Leon discovering a new family where he leasts expects it.

Told from Leon's point of view, My Name is Leon is a story of love, identity and loss, seeing the process of foster care and adult decisions through the eyes of a child in 1980s Britain.

Was 2016 TV's defining year for diversity?

For many people who believe in diverse, multiracial societies, 2016 was a year of profound political setbacks. But, paradoxically, it may also go down as the year in which British television finally embraced real and permanent change in how it deals with diversity.

As we begin a new year, many influential voices are convinced that TV’s decision-makers are now determined to move towards a genuinely diverse workforce. They also hope to see big improvements in the on-screen ­representation of people from marginalised groups.

Top TV Picks: 19th December

Christmas City 

BBC One, 9.15am (continues throughout the week)

Christmas City is a five-part series presented by Rav Wilding and Hayley Hassall that looks at what it takes to deliver a special Christmas.

They go behind the scenes to show all the organisation that goes into making sure everyone coming into Manchester has a safe and memorable Christmas, such as how the market stall holders keep up with festivities.

Ofcom to launch annual diversity monitoring scheme

Ofcom's Sharon White at the RTS Cambridge Convention 2015 (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

The move was announced by Sharon White, the regulator’s CEO, speaking in London at a debate on diversity organised by Ofcom and Sky.

White said: “We will be looking at diversity data across the broadcasters we regulate helping us to get the most comprehensive picture yet of how well each broadcaster is doing.

“This is an important step towards greater transparency and greater accountability.”

Ofcom aims to collect a range of information regarding the diversity of people employed by broadcasters and gauge what steps are being taken to monitor diversity.

Marcus Ryder: What the BBC White Paper means for diversity

Marcus Ryder

Thursday was an important day for diversity in the media as the government announced a White Paper which enshrined diversity in the BBC charter– but what it really means in reality will all be in the small print.

The Royal Television Society is a charitable organization whose remit is to encourage and celebrate the understanding of television and its related fields. As Chair of the Diversity Committee here is my guide as to what people should be looking out for in the coming months:

 

Why diversity makes business sense for TV

Making Diversity Pay

The economic arguments for diversity came under the microscope at a lively joint RTS/BBC session held at New Broadcasting House last month. The panellists agreed that, following years of inaction, broadcasters are finally making an effort to boost black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) represen­tation in television.

TV diary: Peter Bazalgette

Apparently, I've not contributed a diary since 2010. Perhaps I only get invited in election years. In May 2010, I was also asked to review the different channels' election coverage by The Guardian.

On that occasion, I called it decisively for Sky News. ITN was fine but less dramatic. And the BBC, with its ship-of-fools party and an over-academic Vernon Bogdanor and a swingometer that couldn't cope with a three-way race and, and, and...