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The Journal of Media and Diversity Issue 01 Winter 2020 Sir Lenny Henry, Leah Cowan, David Olusoga, Marverine Duffy, Charlene White, Kimberly McIntosh, Professor Stuart Hall, Kesewa Hennessy, Will Norman, Emma Butt, Dr David Dunkley Gyimah, Dr Erica Gillingham, Dr Peter Block, Suchandrika Chakrabarti 1 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY REPRESENTOLOGY The Journal of Media and Diversity Editorial Mission Statement Welcome to Representology, a journal dedicated to research and best-practice perspectives on how to make the media more representative of all sections of society. A starting point for effective representation are the “protected characteristics” defined by the Equality Act 2010 including, but not limited to, race, gender, sexuality, and disability, as well as their intersections. We recognise that definitions of diversity and representation are dynamic and constantly evolving and our content will aim to reflect this. Representology is a forum where academic researchers and media industry professionals can come together to pool expertise and experience. We seek to create a better understanding of the current barriers to media participation as well as examine and promote the most effective ways to overcome such barriers. We hope the journal will influence policy and practice in the media industry through a rigorous, evidence-based approach. Our belief is that a more representative media workforce will enrich and improve media output, enabling media organisations to better serve their audiences, and encourage a more pluralistic and inclusive public discourse. This is vital for a healthy society and well-functioning democracy. We look forward to working with everyone who shares this vision. 2 ISSUE 01 WINTER 2020 CONTENTS EDITORIAL 04 Lessons from history In the wake of Black Lives Matter, many Sir Lenny Henry and David Olusoga people at the helm of the UK media industry interview. Transcript by Marcus Ryder have rightly been critical of its historic 10 IRL with Team Charlene: failings around diversity – both in its output behind the cameras and in making sure its workforce mirrors the Charlene White many shades of modern multicultural Britain. 12 Diversity in post-production sound But we must remember that this period of self-analysis roles in UK television production does not mark a moment – it heralds a movement. In Emma Butt the pages of Representology – the Journal for Media and Diversity – we hope to build connections between 22 The future of diversity regulation the academy, journalists and broadcasters. Rather than in the UK broadcast industry seek piecemeal reform to address the - models and ownership underrepresentation of marginalised voices, we wish to Dr Peter Block go further and help create a media that reflects the richness of every part of society. Launched as a joint 34 The importance of archive initiative between Birmingham City University and Dr David Dunkley Gyimah Cardiff University (see back page for comments by 38 Strangers in a Strange Land: their Vice-Chancellors), we want to analyse and work with all areas of media production, commissioning new media representation of disability research and opening meaningful conversations on Will Norman how to dismantle existing barriers to participation. 42 Widening perspectives in This first issue features Sir Lenny Henry and David political journalism Olusoga talking frankly about race and stereotyping Leah Cowan in the television industry, Charlene White’s thoughts on fusing together current affairs and children’s 48 Freelancing in the media programming for ‘IRL with Team Charlene’, and Suchandrika Chakrabarti Dr Peter Block and Emma Butt unveiling their original 52 The Financial Times: New initiatives academic research on the systemic lack of diversity in to engage women readers broadcast regulation and post-production sound recording. We republish Professor Stuart Hall’s Kesewa Hennessy ferocious television essay ‘It Ain’t Half Racist, Mum’, 56 ‘It ain’t half racist, mum’ discover a treasure trove in the Black radio archive, Professor Stuart Hall. Introduced by K Biswas consider cultural depictions of disability and newspaper initiatives to better engage women readers, 64 Book review and navigate the evolving worlds of freelance and Kimberly McIntosh on Joshua Virasami’s political journalism. At the end of each article, you will ‘How to change it’ (Merky Books) find a summary of ideas for the industry to act upon. 68 Protect the ones you love We are looking to widen the editorial board of Poem by Dr Erica Gillingham Representology (see back page for full list) as well as our pool of writers. If you are interested in contributing 70 Representology recommends to this developing project or have feedback and Marverine Duffy suggestions for future issues, please get in touch: 72 Statements from the Vice-Chancellors [email protected] of Birmingham City University and Cardiff University 74 Representology Editorial Board 75 Submission Guidelines 3 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY 4 ISSUE 01 WINTER 2020 LESSONS FROM HISTORY Sir Lenny Henry in conversation with Sir Lenny Henry: David Olusoga: My colleagues and I set up The thing history can bring historian, broadcaster and film-maker the Sir Lenny Henry Centre to the debate about David Olusoga on media diversity, for Media Diversity at diversity and inclusion is an Birmingham City University understanding of where institutional memory and racism in the because we had this feeling race came from. These that the industry often ideas are so deep, so UK television industry. doesn’t learn from its ingrained within our society, mistakes or build on its that when we just talk about successes. Why do you structural racism and we think history is so important don’t talk about the in achieving media historical process of diversity? construction, I don’t think we land that idea properly. These ideas did not come about of their own volition. This was not accidental. The idea of Black inferiority, Black intellectual inferiority, transcript cognitive inferiority, behavioural inferiority – Marcus Ryder these things were invented 5 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY and they were propagated in our societies for decade after nothing like the background neighbours and if you would decade by people with vast amounts of money and political of the city. live next to someone. They power in order to justify slavery, the slave trade and then always missed out the third Sir Lenny Henry: Do you later, empire. Then they were armoured with pseudo-science. one because it never think diversity and inclusion seemed a possibility in the I think the job of historians is to look at the process of is getting better in the UK 50s when they were asking construction and explain what the phrase ‘structural racism’ film and TV industry? these attitudinal surveys: means. To make more people understand that this is not an David Olusoga: would you work for a Black extreme kind of racism that Black people have made up to I think it boss? annoy white people. It’s an accurate terminology for an idea might be – but because of the past six months, not that was built and that needs to be deconstructed. Sir Lenny Henry: Can you because of the past 30 imagine that, in post-war Sir Lenny Henry: How much does your background as a years. If you asked me that Britain? historian shape how you view the media, television, film question in January 2020 industries? before Black Lives Matter, David Olusoga: People were before the murder of George comfortable with Black David Olusoga: I think it relates to the previous question. It Floyd, I would have said I people driving the buses but makes me alert to the way race operates and what the tropes see very, very little progress. they didn’t want them as and the stereotypes are. What I see in my career is really I see some progress in neighbours and they didn’t nice, good, decent, liberal people acting in ways that content, I see some progress want them going out with reinforce stereotypes because they’ve never examined their in youth programming and their daughter. They never thinking. I’m sure people would say I’m over-alert but I don’t again there’s a problem with thought about the possibility believe I am, because actually there’s now a young seeing Black people and of saying, you know, I hope generation who, almost instinctively, seem to be alert to these youth as intersecting and he’s running the bus issues. But I see an industry full of people who’ve never overlapping, but I didn’t see company. thought – and get upset when they’re asked to think – about much progress behind the how race operates in our interactions with each other, in the Sir Lenny Henry: The way to camera. ideas that they’re comfortable with and the ideas that they’re change it is to increase uncomfortable with, or in the positions in which they’re That might be about to who’s running things. It’s perfectly happy to see Black people and the positions where change. It seems to me that what we’ve been saying for it just feels uncomfortable to see Black people. the initiatives do seem of a years. different order – although David Olusoga: who’s going to hold people I’ve noticed to account is a big question. throughout my career when There’s something specifically But the level of urgency I’ve been in positions of wrong with television and I think seems of a different order, authority that some people people are saying things have really struggled to it’s worse than other industries. they haven’t said before. actually do what I say and to It’s more insidious, it’s more That makes me more see that my judgement is hopeful.