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 ISSUE 02 SUMMER 2021 REPRESENTOLOGY CONTENTS EDITORIAL The Journal of Media and Diversity 04 Developing Film Welcome to Issue Two of Representology - Sir Lenny Henry and Amma Asante The Journal of Media and Diversity. Since we Editorial Mission Statement interview. launched, many of you have shared 14 Finding My Voice encouraging words and ideas on how to help Welcome to Representology, a journal Afua Hirsch create a media more reflective of modern dedicated to research and best-practice 18 Putting the Black into Britain Britain. perspectives on how to make the media more Professor Kurt Barling representative of all sections of society. 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 A starting point for effective representation are the East Asians in British Cinema visions for the journal and answer your questions. As “protected characteristics” defined by the Equality Act Chi Thai and Delphine Lievens Editor, I chaired a wide-ranging conversation on ‘Race 2010 including, but not limited to, race, gender, and the British Media’ with Sir Lenny Henry, Leah sexuality, and disability, as well as their intersections. 38 The Problem with ‘Urban’ Cowan, and Marcus Ryder. Our discussions and the We recognise that definitions of diversity and Nina Robinson responses to illuminating audience interventions gave representation are dynamic and constantly evolving 44 Sian Vasey - disability pioneer inside us a theme that runs through this issue - capturing and our content will aim to reflect this. British broadcasting experiences and documenting struggles. As illustrated in a number of the following articles, people have been Representology is a forum where academic David Hevey fighting for decades to push for positive change within researchers and media industry professionals can 48 established institutions in press and broadcasting. Over come together to pool expertise and experience. We Why it’s not ok to call a female director the years, there have been great victories - however, in seek to create a better understanding of the current ‘fluffy’: The impact of negative female many instances, media workers who have raised barriers to media participation as well as examine and stereotypes in the television industry and concerns about poor work and hiring practices have promote the most effective ways to overcome such strategies for change had doors slammed in their faces. barriers. We hope the journal will influence policy and Melanie Gray practice in the media industry through a rigorous, We have found a willingness from people - experienced 54 PROTEST, RESEARCH and CAMPAIGN: The evidence-based approach. equal rights campaigners around disability and race, Equal Opportunities Network at the BBC for gay and women’s liberation - to share their stories Our belief is that a more representative media Debbie Christie in our journal, buttressed by exclusive and robust workforce will enrich and improve media output, academic research. We include these pieces not as enabling media organisations to better serve their 58 A Black journalist at The Guardian mere reminiscences - we hope to play a role in audiences, and encourage a more pluralistic and Gary Younge confronting institutional amnesia and inspire a new inclusive public discourse. This is vital for a healthy 64 The Parent Trap generation of media professionals to diversify their society and well-functioning democracy. We look industry. Meaningful change to the media can only forward to working with everyone who shares Adrian Lester come about if we break down existing barriers and this vision. So Mayer, Raising Films 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 2 3 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY 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 4 5 REPRESENTOLOGY THE JOURNAL OF MEDIA AND DIVERSITY ISSUE 02 SUMMER 2021 make the leap from appearing on-screen to working behind The storyline also led me, and I thought; “Oh, maybe Fox. And, Lenny, let me tell Mick Pilsworth, at Chrysalis the camera? Tell us a little about your journey from being a and the other Grange Hill that’s a trajectory that I can you, I turned up at Fox Entertainment. And Mick The qualities of drama school kid to being one of our most important Black kids, to go to the White follow.” For me, that just Studios in Los Angeles in cut said to me; “Did you really a good mentor British female directors. House and meet Nancy demonstrates why all these down jeans and a cut down write this?” And I said, “Yes, Lenny: But, again, it could Reagan and to appear on statements and things that t-shirt, because I was on I did write it.” And he said, Amma: There was definitely no master plan. I attended have all come to nothing – news channels in the US and we read, even when we’re holiday at the time. “Okay, well, let’s talk about Barbara Speake [Stage School] because my dad noticed, is that right? UK. 15, 16, 17 years old, really what we can do”. And he when I was at primary school in South London, that I was I was in my very early go on to impact us and then sent it to Channel Amma: I went through three really creative. But I was also quite shy. I was very outgoing twenties, and had no idea make a difference, one way Four’s Commissioning years of development work, at home, and in my mum and dad’s shop, which they had in The importance that I was turning up to a or another, because that’s Editor, Seamus Cassidy. and then a new Shepherds Bush, but I was not outgoing in school. whole professional studio of women and where I thought; “Okay, That’s how I got my first commissioning editor came meeting, because I had no My dad was really good at looking at what each of his maybe there’s a world where seven script deal with in, with a new broom, and diversity in concept of American children was good at, and [at] trying to push us towards that. I can keep a roof over my Channel Four. everything was swept out. studios, or what those kinds For example, my brother’s a biochemist now, and, at an early positions of head, you know, in that of professional meetings That was how it started. I I’d also got a development age, my dad was always buying him chemistry kits. way.” influence were like. But, as I say, I had stopped acting fully at that deal on a sitcom I created, So, he knew of a couple of stage schools, but he wanted me Lenny: But I understand it And so I was trying to get gone to the US on holiday, point. It dawned on me when called Ladies in the House, to go to one that was the most multicultural, that had a could have all ended at that my typing speed up. I would and I only had holiday I got into my twenties, that I at the BBC. And I can’t percentage of Black kids. They didn’t want me to go to a point. do copy typing. And then I clothes with me. So, I go in, was only doing it because actually remember if it was place where I’d be the only Black kid there.