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Download Black Artists, And, to Ensure Taken from Them and Replaced by White Line-Ups Sir Lenny Henry, Amma Asante, Afua Hirsch, Kurt Barling, Chi Thai and Delphine Lievens, Nina Robinson, David Hevey, Melanie Gray, Debbie Christie, Gary Younge, Adrian Lester, So Mayer, Siobhán McGuirk, Selina Nwulu, Ciaran Thapar The Journal of Media and Diversity Issue 02 Summer 2021 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. Representology is a collaboration between Birmingham City University and Cardiff University 2 ISSUE 02 SUMMER 2021 CONTENTS EDITORIAL 04 Developing Film Welcome to Issue Two of Representology - Sir Lenny Henry and Amma Asante The Journal of Media and Diversity. Since we interview. launched, many of you have shared 14 Finding My Voice encouraging words and ideas on how to help Afua Hirsch create a media more reflective of modern 18 Putting the Black into Britain Britain. Professor Kurt Barling On March 30th, we hosted our first public event - an 24 The Exclusion Act: British East and South opportunity for all those involved to spell out their East Asians in British Cinema visions for the journal and answer your questions. As Chi Thai and Delphine Lievens Editor, I chaired a wide-ranging conversation on ‘Race and the British Media’ with Sir Lenny Henry, Leah 38 The Problem with ‘Urban’ Cowan, and Marcus Ryder. Our discussions and the Nina Robinson responses to illuminating audience interventions gave 44 Sian Vasey - disability pioneer inside us a theme that runs through this issue - capturing British broadcasting experiences and documenting struggles. As illustrated in a number of the following articles, people have been David Hevey fighting for decades to push for positive change within 48 Why it’s not ok to call a female director established institutions in press and broadcasting. Over ‘fluffy’: The impact of negative female the years, there have been great victories - however, in stereotypes in the television industry and many instances, media workers who have raised concerns about poor work and hiring practices have strategies for change had doors slammed in their faces. Melanie Gray We have found a willingness from people - experienced 54 PROTEST, RESEARCH and CAMPAIGN: The equal rights campaigners around disability and race, Equal Opportunities Network at the BBC for gay and women’s liberation - to share their stories Debbie Christie in our journal, buttressed by exclusive and robust 58 A Black journalist at The Guardian academic research. We include these pieces not as Gary Younge mere reminiscences - we hope to play a role in confronting institutional amnesia and inspire a new 64 The Parent Trap generation of media professionals to diversify their Adrian Lester industry. Meaningful change to the media can only So Mayer, Raising Films come about if we break down existing barriers and build on the work of those who went before us. 68 Book review Dr Siobhán McGuirk on Jonathan Ned Katz In the previous edition of Representology, we invited book The Daring Life and Dangerous Times applicants to join our editorial board, and I am of Eve Adams delighted to welcome its three newest members - Dr Wanda Wyporska, Lucy Brown and Alison Wilde - 72 The Audacity of Our Skin who between them bring a wealth of experience to this Poem by Selina Nwulu developing project. As ever, if you are interested in 76 Representology recommends contributing, or wish to send your views and Ciaran Thapar suggestions for future issues, please write to us: [email protected] 78 Representology Editorial Board 79 Submission Guidelines K Biswas Editor 3 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY 4 ISSUE 02 SUMMER 2021 DE VEL OPING FILM Sir Lenny Henry in conversation Lenny: Representation LENNY: Hi, Amma, thank with award winning filmmaker you so much for agreeing to matters - Amma Asante on successful period chat with me today for our drama has brilliant new journal, dramas, steadfast mentors, and Representology. We believe impact sharing power on the silver screen. that leading artists like Lenny: yourself have invaluable Let’s try and unlock some knowledge about how to of your success, as you are make our industry more one of the most important diverse and inclusive. In my and influential Black British mind, it is all about directors of recent years. I Amma Asante is a BAFTA recording, and then first came across you on award-winning filmmaker. circulating, that knowledge the BBC’s legendary series and experience to as wide Grange Hill, on which you This is a transcript of a an audience as possible, were working as a child conversation which took making sure we don’t actor. I also remember you repeat the mistakes that working as an intern on place over Zoom on 8th June have happened before, and Chef [a 1990s BBC building on our successes. comedy-drama, starring 2021, produced and edited Lenny Henry, written by by Marcus Ryder Peter Tilbury]. So, was there always a plan for you to 5 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY make the leap from appearing on-screen to working behind The storyline also led me, the camera? Tell us a little about your journey from being a and the other Grange Hill drama school kid to being one of our most important Black kids, to go to the White British female directors. House and meet Nancy Amma: There was definitely no master plan. I attended Reagan and to appear on Barbara Speake [Stage School] because my dad noticed, news channels in the US and when I was at primary school in South London, that I was UK. really creative. But I was also quite shy. I was very outgoing at home, and in my mum and dad’s shop, which they had in The importance Shepherds Bush, but I was not outgoing in school. of women and My dad was really good at looking at what each of his diversity in children was good at, and [at] trying to push us towards that. For example, my brother’s a biochemist now, and, at an early positions of age, my dad was always buying him chemistry kits. influence So, he knew of a couple of stage schools, but he wanted me Lenny: But I understand it to go to one that was the most multicultural, that had a could have all ended at that percentage of Black kids. They didn’t want me to go to a point. place where I’d be the only Black kid there. And so I went to Barbara Speake’s. And when I got there, Kwame Kwei-Armah Amma: After Grange Hill, I was there, Naomi Campbell was there and Michelle Gayle effectively stopped acting was there. But, in the beginning, I was terrified. It was all too when I got to around 19. I much. It was like The Kids from “Fame” [cast members from did a little bit of presenting the 1980s American TV drama set in a stage school]. with Lee MacDonald on the Children’s Channel. And Lenny: Kids dancing on taxis in the street in leg-warmers various other things, like a and leotards, yelling “Let’s do the show right here”? bit in one episode of Amma: Exactly! I mean, literally! I walked in and there were all Desmond’s [a 1990s Channel these kids in leotards in the assembly hall. There were kids 4 comedy set in a Black rehearsing what we used to call an “own show”, which was a British barber shop], but show that the kids produced for themselves. It was a lunch mainly because I didn’t know break, and they were all rehearsing and doing splits in the air, how to do anything else. and all of that. And I begged my dad for a full seven months When all my friends had to take me out of the school. Then, suddenly, one day I gone to university, I hadn’t. became one of those kids doing splits in the air, and you’re My mum was terrified that one of those kids who knows how to be one of The Kids from my dad had sort of led me “Fame”, and you’re talking like everybody else, and suddenly down this road, where I had I was a bit more out of myself – not as much as everybody not got an education, the else – but I was one of them. kind of education that she wanted me to get. So, she Lenny: So, you were finally fitting in.
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