Press Release
DIRECTORS UK WELCOMES OFCOM REPORT ON DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN TELEVISION
14 September 2017
Commenting on Ofcom’s monitoring report on Diversity and Equal Opportunities in Television, Ali Bailey, Head of Campaigns said:
“Directors UK welcomes Ofcom’s report looking at diversity and equal opportunity in television, and supports their call for better monitoring and reporting of employee data and particularly the importance of including freelancer data within the monitoring of the broadcasting industry workforce.
As our own research reports into gender and diversity have shown there is a lack of knowledge about the make up of the directing workforce in the UK as the majority are freelance. As a result the significant under-representation of women and BAME directors and other minority groups is allowed to go unchecked. We support Ofcom in calling for more rigorous monitoring, better representation and tougher enforcement of diversity and equality in our industry.”
“Directors UK welcomes Ofcom’s report looking at diversity and equal opportunity in television, and supports their call for better monitoring and reporting of employee data and particularly the importance of including freelancer data within the monitoring of the broadcasting industry workforce.
As our own research reports into gender and diversity have shown there is a lack of knowledge about the make up of the directing workforce in the UK as the majority are freelance. As a result the significant under-representation of women and BAME directors and other minority groups is allowed to go unchecked. We support Ofcom in calling for more rigorous monitoring, better representation and tougher enforcement of diversity and equality in our industry.”
- Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 6,400 members - the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
- Directors UK has published reports on gender and diversity among film and TV directors in the UK including: UK Television: Adjusting the Colour Balance, Women Directors - Who’s Calling the Shots? and Cut Out of the Picture: A study of gender inequality among directors within the UK film industry.
- Further information can be found at www.directors.uk.com.
- To become a member of Directors UK for access to training, benefits and discounts, please visit
www.directors.uk.com/join or contact us directly at [email protected]. - Directors UK Social Media handle: @Directors_UK
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