The Media Club · 2 December 2022 · 48 min
From Outrage to Opportunity: Missing Perspectives in Media & BBC's latest Ofcom Report
- Gender Diversity in News
- BBC Ofcom Report
- Diversity in TV Executives
- BBC Licence Fee
- Content London
- Missing Perspectives Report
- BBC Local Radio Cuts
- Nostalgia TV
In this episode of The Media Club, host Faraz Osman is joined by Lis Howell and Tara Conlan to discuss diversity and representation in UK media. They cover Tara's experiences at Content London, the ongoing lack of diversity in top TV executive roles, and insights from Luba Kassova's report 'The Missing Perspectives of Women in News', which quantifies the revenue opportunity of closing the gender gap in news consumption. The panel also examines Ofcom's annual BBC report, which highlights lower satisfaction among lower-income audiences, and debates the implications for the BBC's licence fee and local radio cuts. The episode includes a media quiz and discussions on nostalgia TV and iPlayer's expanded catalogue.
Key takeaways
- The Missing Perspectives of Women in News report found that women are significantly underrepresented in news leadership, with only 37% of UK editors-in-chief being women and no women of colour in senior health, politics, business, or foreign affairs roles.
- The report quantified a potential revenue opportunity of £11 billion globally and £413 million in the UK by 2027 if the gender news consumption gap is closed.
- Ofcom's annual BBC report highlighted lower satisfaction among lower-income viewers, who are more likely to watch commercial channels like ITV.
- The BBC announced plans to cut up to 40 jobs in Northern Ireland radio as part of its digital-first strategy.
- The panel discussed the BBC's new entertainment show The Traitors, which has been a ratings success and is seen as part of the broadcaster's effort to appeal to broader audiences.
In this episode
- Intro and News Round-up
- Content London Gossip
- Diversity Debate
- Deep Dive: Missing Perspectives Report
- Ofcom BBC Report Discussion
- Media Quiz: Media Moves
- Outro
Notable quotes
“It's a bit like Davos for tele.”
“I've always said that in a crisis, it's always women overboard first, women and children overboard.”
“There is this fallacy of the high profile representation.”
“We still haven't had a director general of the BBC yet who's a woman, have we?”
“It's like three steps forward and two steps back sometimes.”
Discussed
Mentioned or recommended
- The Missing Perspectives of Women in News
- The Traitors
- The Confessions of Franny Langton
- Louis Theroux Interviews
- Gladiators
- Survivor
- Big Brother
- Deal or No Deal
- The Price Is Right
- The Weakest Link
- Ackley Bridge
- Little Britain
- Gavin & Stacey
- Rise and Fall
- The Circle
- Gold Box
- May Grey
- Blue Lamp
- The Agenda
- Bolton and Friends
- Andrew Neil Show
- Project Kangaroo
- Content London
