Despite Industry Slowdown, BBC Diversity Boss Says Representation Can Keep Improving
deadline.comEXCLUSIVE: Despite the current slowdown, the BBC‘s creative diversity boss is confident representation in UK TV can keep heading in a positive direction.
Speaking to Deadline exclusively upon the announcement of a new 25% diversity target for all BBC shows, Jessica Schibli, who has been in post 12 months, said she takes confidence from the fact that representation has improved year-on-year since 2021 even as slowdown and recession have set in.
Concerns have been raised anecdotally over the past few months that the industry’s diversity push will be hard hit by the slowdown, with the freelancers exiting and indies closing coming from less traditional backgrounds.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival late last month, a host of leading TV execs acknowledged with little apology that there are too many production companies, including the BBC’s own Dan McGolpin, who said: “There aren’t enough money and hours to keep everyone alive.” But Schibli was bullish that this tectonic shift won’t adversely affect people from non-traditional backgrounds. “We see our role in supporting indies,” she said. “One thing that gives me real reassurance is the fact that year on year our [diversity] numbers are getting better.
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