Racism and underreporting still prevalent in UK broadcasting industry: Bectu survey

Bectu has released the findings of its recent ‘Race to be heard’ survey.

The survey, which asked a series of questions about whether respondents had experienced or witnessed racism, experiences reporting racism to either a broadcaster or a trade union, and whether complaints were dealt with effectively, garnered hundreds of responses from UK film and TV workers.

The survey responses indicate that current racism reporting mechanisms are, for the people surveyed, largely ineffective, and revealed an overwhelming lack of confidence with the way in which broadcasters and trade unions handle reports of racism. Many respondents expressed that their complaints were either not taken seriously or completely ignored.

The findings also demonstrate how racism is embedded into some workplace cultures and hierarchal systems, as well as its negative impact on people’s careers and progression.

Key findings:

• 61% of global majority* respondents reported experiencing racism at work
• 59% of global majority respondents reported witnessing racism at work
• Just 12% of those who reported racism to a trade union felt their complaint had been dealt with effectively
• Just 4% of those who reported racism to a broadcaster felt their complaint had been dealt with effectively

The survey follows publication of Bectu’s ‘Race to be heard’ report in late 2020, researched and written by producer and academic Marcus Ryder. The report pointed to racism within the UK broadcasting industry as a widespread and common experience and recommended the establishment of an industry-wide racism reporting body. This body would initiate investigations into systematic racism, offer advice and assistance on resources available to pursue a complaint, collect and record racial incidents, and publish an annual report on racism in the industry to measure progress and overcome obstacles.

Since Bectu first called on entertainment unions, industry stakeholders and broadcasters to establish an independent racism reporting body in the broadcasting industry, little progress has been made. The recent survey findings indicate that workplace racism and underreporting remain persistent problems, and that mechanisms for dealing with complaints continue to be ineffective.

Bectu has penned an open letter to Ofcom, seeking support in securing a commitment from UK broadcasters to create an independent racism reporting body. Signatories include:

• Marcus Ryder MBE
• Sir Lenny Henry CBE
• Reporter Jasmine Dotiwala
• Broadcaster Samira Ahmed
• John Nicolson MP, SNP Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
• Chair of Campaign for Broadcasting Equality Simon Albury MBE
• Kim Johnson MP
• CEO of the Film and TV Charity Alex Pumfrey 
• Jake Wiafe from award-winning YouTube documentary channel Real Stories
• President of the Ethical Journalism Network Aidan White

Bectu invites creatives, those working in film and TV and industry leaders to show their support and sign the open letter to help put pressure on industry bodies to properly monitor and act on racism in the broadcasting industry.

Read the second edition of the Race to be heard report here.

Read the summary of findings from the recent survey here.

To find out more about the proposed independent racism reporting body, read more here.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “Our findings confirm that reporting of racism in the broadcasting sector, and the handling of reports, remains inadequate and it’s clear that reform is desperately needed. Our survey particularly demonstrates that more work is needed to educate people about subtle forms of racism, including micro aggressions, that remain rife in the sector.

“This latest survey indicates that little has changed since we last called for an independent racism reporting body and highlights the pressing need for such a body. Everyone, unions included, need to do better in helping to stamp out racism in the industry and this can only be done through collaboration and partnership between UK broadcasters and entertainment unions.

“It is now the job of industry leaders to listen to our demands and formulate a racism reporting body. It is not too late to tackle racism in broadcasting, and we will maintain pressure until we see real progress.”

Marcus Ryder MBE, Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, said: “All the evidence suggests that there is serious underreporting of racism in British broadcasting. If we want to maintain and grow a world class film television industry, we must create an environment in which everyone can thrive. An independent racism reporting body would be an important step in achieving that.”

*We use the term ‘Global Majority’ to refer to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. This is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called to think of themselves as belonging to the global majority. In using this term we recognise that these ethnicities are often defined in the UK as ‘minority’, but that globally, they make up the majority.