Channel 4 has just announced massive strides in on-screen disability representation in its coverage of the Paralympics. Now it’s time to see similar ambitions for representation behind the camera.
On the 15th of June the Sir Lenny Henry Centre published its recommendations for Channel 4’s Black to Front Day - a day highlighting Black talent both in front of the camera and behind it with the ambition of having long term effects long after the day.
The Centre worked closely with Channel 4 and it was an incredibly constructive and positive experience, with the broadcaster taking on board all of our key recommendations.
Key to our proposals was the idea that representation behind the camera was just as important as representation in front of it. Which is why we said “All new commissions for the day should aim for 100% Black representation behind the camera”. We recognised that this is an aspirational goal, but an important principle, that demonstrates that both sides of the camera matter when it comes to diversity.
You could call this the “Olusoga Principle” and the report directly referenced David Olusoga, writing:
‘It is widely acknowledged that there is enough Black talent to achieve 100% representation in front of the camera. The question is what is the rationale for not aspiring to achieve the same level of representation behind the camera. Indeed, we believe trying to formulate an argument as to why the goals would be different runs the very risk of falling into the issue identified by Dr David Olusoga in his MacTaggart lecture when he said:
“There is willingness to accept Black people as performers, in front of the camera, but unwillingness on the part of the industry to make space for them behind the scenes, in the rooms where the decisions are made and the real creativity happens.”’
It was therefore with both excitement and trepidation that I read the latest news that “More than 70% of the Channel 4 presenting team for the Paralympics will be disabled.”
The obvious concern is when it comes to disability Channel 4 is falling on the wrong side of the ‘Olusoga Principle’.
First of all this is an amazing achievement and should be acknowledged as such. According to the latest UK broadcasters’ backed reporting figures disabled people account for only 8.2% of on screen roles, and so a 70% marks major progress.
However I am concerned that I have not seen any figures published yet relating to representation of disabled staff behind the camera.
Channel 4 obviously recognise the importance of representation behind the camera. In 2020 when the channel published its commitment to disability representation it published targets for both on-screen and behind the camera: 12% for workforce representation by 2023, and 9% for on-screen representation by the same year.
Running through the Centre’s report for the Black to Front Day was the idea that this should be bigger than just one day, and that lessons learnt from the Black to Front Day to increase Black representation should be used, where appropriate, to increase all types of other representation.
Channel 4 achieving more than 70% on-screen representation should be applauded, I just hope that the channel rereads our report and sees transferable lessons, and publishes equally ambitious behind the camera targets.
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