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Policy Brief: Racial diversity initiatives in UK film and TV - Prof Sarita Malik and Dr Clive Nwonka

19_Diversity

Professor Sarita Malik (Brunel University London) and Dr Clive Nwonka (UCL) examined the evaluation and outcomes of significant racial diversity initiatives in UK film and TV. They found that:

  • Organisations are reluctant to be transparent about the impact of their diversity plans, so there is an absence of reliable data and monitoring of specific diversity initiatives.

  • Fluid terminology and data categorisation makes it difficult to discern the targets and outcomes of diversity initiatives. In particular, the term ‘BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) is a broad category which does not make the nuanced experiences of different ethnic and cultural groups visible.

  • Available data also does not capture how experience varies with intersectionality, work area, seniority or geographical location.

  • Lack of space for direct testimonies from ethnic minority groups has limited understandings of the barriers to achieving diversity

  • There was an unwillingness to address structural discriminatory practices such as in funding awards or recruitment methods. 

Read the whole document to find out more