Date: 22 November 2017
Country: UK
The scale and nature of the diversity challenge facing the TV industry in the UK has been raising concerns, after the Ofcom report “Diversity and equal opportunities in television” recently revealed the failure of the British TV broadcasters to represent the whole society.
Focusing on this issue, the Westminster Media Forum, a company which organises senior-level conferences on public policy relating to the media, is holding a seminar aiming to improve the diversity in the sector, both on and off screen. The seminar will be in the morning of the 22nd November 2017, at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
The attending delegates will explore how to address the key structural barriers to entry and progression in the sector from an intersection perspective comprising the education system, skills development, recruitment and employment practices, and workplace culture. Options for policy and regulation would also be considered by looking into the possibility of collaboration between bodies within and outside the sector.
The guests of honours are Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive Officer; Malcolm Sinclair, President at Equity; and Jamie Hindhaugh, Chief Operating Officer at BT Sport and BT TV. Other speakers include Jennifer Smith, Head of Diversity at BFI, and David Mumeni, Actor, Writer, Director and Founder of Open Door.
The 2017 Diversity in Broadcasting report of Ofcom, as well as the framework of BBC’s new operating license will be part of the discussions according to the seminar agenda.
“Television has the power to shape and represent our identities and values. To achieve that, broadcasters must reflect the society we live in today,” said Sharon White in the Ofcom report. “Achieving equal representation is a crucial issue facing our broadcasting industry. By drawing on the best and brightest talent across all our communities, broadcasters can deliver even better programmes that genuinely reflect our rich and diverse society.”
The seminar will assess the next steps that can be taken by industry and policymakers to improve diversity in the UK screen industries.
Book your place here. For more information and to download the agenda, please see the Westminster Media Forum event page.