The BBC Expands Creative Diversity Commitments: A Step Toward Greater Equality and Inclusion in the Media Industry

The BBC is making significant strides in its mission to increase diversity and inclusion within its programme-making teams, launching ambitious new commitments that will ensure on-air stories reflect the true diversity of audiences across the UK. For those of us passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), this marks a powerful movement in the right direction.

Elevating Representation in Media
The BBC is raising its representation targets for TV production teams across ethnicity, disability, and socio-economic backgrounds. The new goal is for 25% of all production roles to be held by individuals from these underrepresented groups, up from the previous target of 20%. This focus on expanding opportunities both on and off-screen will help ensure that the stories told through the BBC truly resonate with diverse communities across the country.

In a commitment to impactful change, the BBC will invest a minimum of £80 million annually into content that meets its creative diversity criteria for TV and Radio. This significant investment will focus on aligning diverse on-air storytelling with stronger off-screen representation, particularly within senior production roles and leadership at production companies.

Listening and Learning: The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity Review
To inform these new commitments, the BBC commissioned the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) to review the impact of their previous diversity initiatives. This comprehensive research, led by experts in media diversity, has provided valuable insights into how the BBC can continue to drive meaningful change in the industry. Over the past three years, the BBC has already invested £243 million in diversity and inclusion—more than double their original commitment. Now, with recommendations from the LHC, the BBC is pushing even further to lead the way in authentic representation.

Inclusive Production Principles: A Commitment to Fairness
As part of its new strategy, the BBC has introduced Inclusive Production Principles, designed to foster a more inclusive culture on every production. These principles include: Hair & Makeup: Productions will be required to provide specialist hair and makeup stylists skilled in working with afro-textured hair and a variety of skin tones, ensuring that all cast members feel seen and respected. Accessible Productions: The BBC will integrate industry-wide guidelines from the TV Access Project, ensuring that production environments—from set locations to post-production houses—are accessible for all, including those with disabilities.

A Focus on Long-Lasting Change
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, highlighted the importance of diverse-led independent production companies in telling authentic British stories. By strengthening its diversity targets and enhancing investment in inclusive content, the BBC is fostering an environment where representation is not only a goal but a standard.

Jessica Schibli, BBC’s Head of Creative Diversity, emphasised that these new commitments build on the learnings from previous efforts, focusing on creating lasting change both on-air and in the crucial off-screen senior roles that influence creative output. "Representation, inclusion, and authenticity are at the heart of this," she stated, stressing that the BBC must continue to serve all audiences.

A New Era of Accountability and Collaboration
The BBC remains dedicated to transparency, annually reporting on its performance through a refreshed Diversity Commissioning Code of Practice. Through initiatives like Elevate and the Small Indie Fund, the BBC will continue to partner with diverse-led production companies and collaborate with broadcasters, streamers, and independent production companies to lead pan-industry interventions.

By raising representation targets and embedding inclusivity into the very fabric of its productions, the BBC is making a bold statement about the future of media. As advocates for equality, diversity, and inclusion, we can only applaud these efforts and hope that other industries follow suit.

For those in beauty and fashion, this serves as a powerful reminder of the role inclusivity plays in shaping industries—and the positive change we can all work toward together. Inclusion and representation are key pillars not just in media but across all industries, and it's encouraging to see large organisations like the BBC taking steps to reflect the diverse beauty of society both on and off the screen.

Sources: www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/bbc-announces-boost-to-creative-diversity-commitments www.bbc.co.uk/creativediversity/production-principles/