And Now the News From Where You Live

Think of all the really good drama that has been produced over the last 50years. Now take off everything with an all english, completely able- bodied production crew and cast - and then ask if any of it would have been made if the form below had been in existence. This is a leaked memo from the B.B.C. to various production companies.

BBC Vision Programme On Screen Portrayal Form

BBC Vision is committed to promoting all kinds of diversity on and off-screen. As part of this commitment we require this form to be filled in for each BBC Vision production. The information you provide is purely for internal use and will allow BBC Vision to monitor on-screen portrayal of ethnic diversity and disability across all programmes.
Programme Title/Series Title:…………………………………………………………
Company name……………………………………………..
BBC Commissioning Executive:……………………………………………………
Cultural Diversity

Please indicate using the boxes below, how you perceive* the people appearing onscreen in your production:

· How many people were featured in the programme/series on screen in the different roles
· From which ethnic group do you believe they originate?

(Please write the number of people in the relevant box on each line)
*We are seeking to collect your perceptions of the ethnic mix of onscreen talent in your programme as this is likely to be representative of the audiences’ perceptions of the make up of your programme.

Lead Supporting/Contributors Presenter/Journalist
White
Black
Asian
Chinese
Mixed race
Other
Total
Disability
Please indicate number of disabled people you believe to be represented in the programme and their role (eg. presenter/reporter/interviewee, vox pop, contributor, contestant, lead/supporting actor or extra)

Number: ________________________

Role: ___________________________

Now ask yourself this:
If I were disabled, or from an ethnic minority, would i want to be employed purely to fulfill someone´s politically correct idea of a work quota?
Or would i want to be employed on merit?