Category Archives: Diversity of representation

“Emotional Tax” of being on guard against racial bias

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Paul Evans

Bectu works in sectors of the economy that are all suffering skills shortages which are, in turn, exacerbated by retention problems. With this in mind, this research is particularly interesting. Summarising it, the LSE blog says… “Being on high alert … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Diversity of representation, Gender representation, Management, Race equality, Skills & capacity, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A distinctly British focus for TV programmes

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

David Tennant has been questioning some of the arguments around demands for ‘distinctly British programmes (or ‘lovely jubbly telly‘ as John Whittingdale didn’t say recently). “Is there some inherent criticism within this plea for more Britishness?” he said in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BECTU and APA ‘Diversity Action Plan’

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

Working with the Advertising Producers Association (APA) Bectu has published a Diversity Action Plan [pdf]. With the support of over 100 production companies, the signatories have committed to implement a step-by-step guide to address under-representation, including participation in the Induction … Continue reading →

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Diversity and equal opportunities in TV and radio – Ofcom reporting

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

Ofcom recently published their five-year review on diversity and equal opportunities in TV and Radio [pdf]. It’s an interesting one because a few things are gradually coming together now. So, for example, on disability, they now are able to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Comprehensive European figures on women’s representation in TV drama

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Women still under-represented in the #TVfiction industry in Europe🚺Find out more in our report ➡ https://t.co/hjdMgTDNP4 #womeninfilm #diversitymatters #womendirectors #genderequity pic.twitter.com/hqMu7fHIw6 — Europ AV Observatory (@EuAvObservatory) October 20, 2021 The key insights contained in the report are that, beyond obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Management, Skills & capacity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BBC Studios Appoints Tom Fussell as CEO

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

As reported in Variety. “Fussell will oversee BBC Studio’s “ambitious” plans for global expansion, its focus on employee engagement and wellbeing as well as diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”

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French cultural policy

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

France has always had an interesting, and different approach to cultural policy to the UK’s equivalent. In thinking about this last night, I remembered this 2013 document [pdf] from the Coalition Francaise and I thought I’d bookmark it here. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright & Intellectual Property, Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Directors Guild of America approach to diversity

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

Janice Turner has forwarded me some interesting stuff from one of our union kin in the US, The Directors Guild of America (DGA). Their mission statement includes a dual focus: Cultural diversity is reflected in the stories that Directors tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged | Leave a comment

Racial Diversity Initiatives in UK Film and TV – critical Film and TV Charity report

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Variety seem to have an exclusive on a Film & TV Charity report[pdf] on Racial Diversity Initiatives in UK Film & TV by Dr Clive Nwonka and Professor Sarita Malik. Here are the top lines from it: “There is a … Continue reading →

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Cultural Diversity is not just about limiting discrimination – it’s an economic and industrial factor

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

It’s worth bookmarking Unesco’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions here. This is an important global statement on the need for cultural expressions to be produced, distributed, and owned ‘locally’ (in the Nations and … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Economics, Equality, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Race equality, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Facebook accused of aiding recruitment bias

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

This, following a tip-off from Paul McManus in Bectu’s Glasgow office: A Global Witness investigation has uncovered evidence that Facebook’s ad targeting may be in breach of UK equality and data protection laws. “In April 2020 [an] ad for job openings … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender pay, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Making union communications more accessible

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

Making union communications more accessible https://t.co/wLuiIAJ5Me — Bectu (@bectu) September 9, 2021

Posted in Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Organising Skills, Recruitment and organising | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Post-pandemic working foregrounds poor management and outdated hierarchies

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

A couple of  pieces from the FT recently highlighting the spotlight that has fallen on the quality of management in the UK. The first one [£] takes ministers to task for their (possibly unfounded, or even downright wrong) complaints about … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Employment, Equality, Gender pay, Gender representation, Management, Productivity, Race equality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Intimacy co-ordinators mentoring scheme

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Stage reports that… “A mentoring scheme has been launched to improve diversity in the intimacy coordination profession. The programme for under-represented groups, described as the first of its kind in the UK, has recently completed its inaugural course, training … Continue reading →

Posted in Child protection and safeguarding, Diversity of representation, Gender representation, Race equality, Skills & capacity | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Lower pay in the performing arts

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

One of the biggest factors adversely affecting diversity in the cultural sector is low pay at the entry level – effectively excluding entrants on lower incomes. 🎭Those in the performing and creative arts face the lowest salaries after graduating. 📉They … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Economics, Employment, Low pay, Race equality, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality | Tagged | Leave a comment

How cultural regulation drives investment

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

Carole Tongue of UKCCD has been in touch with a reminder for how we can regulate streaming platforms for increased investment in British drama/film and documentary. It gives guidance on what the Canadian broadcasting regulator should consider when addressing cultural … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Feature film data, High End TV data, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Ofcom on industry’s diversity obligations

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Paul Evans

The broadcasters have an “existential” obligation to improve social class and geographical representation, according to Ofcom’s @dawes_melanie https://t.co/YVhtUXKi7K pic.twitter.com/M7egqNZJ84 — Broadcast (@Broadcastnow) July 19, 2021  

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Bectu’s equality and diversity networks

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

Bectu has a number of equality and diversity networks that members can join. They include: Black Bectu network …for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people working in the creative industries is a way for Bectu to be able to listen … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender pay, Gender representation, Sexual harassment | Leave a comment

Beacon Films and the UK Disability Arts Alliance

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

Beacon Films have been in touch. They work to promote and train workers with learning disabilities seeking to work in the film and TV industries. They support their project members to: Discover Filmmaking Talents Develop Professional Skills Work on Film … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Equality | 1 Comment

(Lack of) diversity in UK production

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

My second post in two days basically pinching something from Adeel Amini’s Facebook page: Only 9 out of 1077 (0.8%) films in a ten year period were directed by some British East / South East Asian person. “Despite Asian people … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Skills & capacity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment