According to the Guardian, Trevor Phillips has returned to the issue of diversity within media organisations, saying:
"Black and Asian reporters are fed up with being assigned stories on Brixton yardies and bling culture".
He said the media had to open up to ethnic minority applicants if it was to reflect the diversity of modern Britain and report on it comprehensively.
"We need to know more about more different kinds of people, we're only going to know that if we have organisations in the media as diverse as our society and communities," Mr Phillips added.
He said the lack of ethnic minority journalism led to mistakes being made by white reporters, pointing to wrong assumptions that were made in some parts of the media about the Asian community after the July bombings in London.
Surely Trevor is being a bit inconsistant here? On the one hand, Black / Asian reporters should not just be assigned to Black / Asian stories. On the other hand, not having ethnic diversity leads to mistakes.
Moral? Get Black / Asian reporters to cover Black / Asian issues.
I see his point though. It could be applied to class as well. Journalism is a prestige profession. A lot of people got into it because they could afford to work for peanuts for a couple of years after they graduated.
Interestingly, only the BBC is likely to take this issue on seriously in a comprehensive way. Because its an accountable body. Other broadcasters and media bodies may have some 'corporate social responsibility' statement that they pay lip service to, but I doubt if they'll do it very seriously.
Posted by: Paul Evans | October 18, 2005 at 06:05 PM