BBC launches ‘ambitious’ new boost to creative diversity commitments
The BBC has announced a boost to its creative diversity commitments following a review by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, including a pledge to invest £80m (US$105m) annually in content that meets the BBC’s creative diversity criteria for TV and radio.
Jessica Schibli
The “ambitious” commitments will increase diversity and inclusion within programme making teams and ensure that the stories told on-air are authentically reflective of audiences across the UK, the pubcaster said.
They include raising representation targets for TV production teams across ethnicity, disability and socio-economic diversity from 20% to 25% across all production roles.
The BBC will also invest a minimum of £80m annually in content that meets the BBC’s creative diversity criteria for TV and radio.
The Beeb said: “Crucially this investment will focus on aligning diverse on-air storytelling with stronger off-air representation in senior production roles and leadership within production companies.”
The original commitments saw £243m invested over the last three years – more than double the original £112m commitment from April 2021 to March 2024 – to drive diversity and inclusion both on and off air.
These include hair and makeup, where productions will provide specialist hair and makeup stylists to work with afro textured hair and a variety of skin tones, and ensuring the industry-wide TV Access Project guidelines are embedded. This includes access coordinators, accessibility of set locations and post-production houses for all productions.
Under the new commitments, productions will be asked to outline their plans to deliver the 25% target and how they will apply the Inclusive Production Principles as part of the commissioning process.
Charlotte Moore, BBC chief content officer, said: “We are committed to backing British storytelling and I recognise the important role diverse-led indies play in telling these authentic stories.
“By increasing our investment in diverse content and enhancing our off-screen diversity targets, we aim to create a more inclusive environment that authentically represents and resonates with all audiences.”
Jessica Schibli, BBC head of creative diversity, said: “Our previous commitments set an industry benchmark. Building on the insights gained over the past three years, our new creative diversity commitments go further to deepen our dedication to making meaningful and lasting changes both on and off air, particularly in senior roles off-air which influence the creative output. We are focused on leading the way in representation, inclusion and authenticity, to ensure that the BBC continues to be impactful in serving all audiences.
“I would like to thank the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for its review as part of our journey to ensuring that the BBC is for everyone. This has been an important report for us and the industry, which alongside other key inputs, has contributed to the aims and ambitions of our new commitments.”
The BBC commissioned the LHC to examine the external impact of the previous commitments and how they have been received by the production sector.
It drew up its list of recommendations after conducting desk research, analysing data provided by the BBC and carrying out surveys and interviews with stakeholders and academics.
Research lead Panayiota Tsatsou, Professor of Media Diversity at Birmingham City University (BCU) where the LHC is based, said: “The report pulls together rich evidence and offers a series of recommendations that inform the BBC’s future work on creative diversity.
“We believe this research creates a solid ground for future initiatives and conversations on media diversity that will make a difference to the industry.”
Professor Diane Kemp, director of the LHC and Professor of Broadcast Journalism at BCU, added: “The research is invaluable not just for the BBC but the wider media industry.”
The BBC said it will continue to support production teams that reflect the diversity of its audiences and diverse-led production companies, partnering with communities and organisations, including through Elevate and the Small Indie Fund.
This includes collaborating with independent production companies, broadcasters, and streamers to lead pan-industry interventions, such as the TV Access Project.
The corporation added it will “maintain transparency and accountability” by continuing to report annually on performance through a refreshed Diversity Commissioning Code of Practice.
