THE BBC has announced it is committing £100million towards improving diverse and inclusive content following the death of George Floyd in the US.
The funding of £100m will come from the corporation’s existing commissioning budget over three years (from 2021/22-2023/24) towards diverse and inclusive content. It will also be supported by a new mandatory 20 percent diverse-talent target in all new network commissions from April 2021.
With this commitment, the corporation said it was throwing open its doors more widely than ever to diverse stories and diverse storytellers.
Director-General, Tony Hall, said: “The senseless killing of George Floyd – and what it tells us about the stain of systemic racism – has had a profound impact on all of us.
“It’s made us question ourselves about what more we can do to help tackle racism – and drive inclusion within our organisation and in society as a whole.
“This is our response – it’s going to drive change in what we make and who makes it. It’s a big leap forward – and we’ll have more to announce in the coming weeks.”
The BBC added that the changes are designed to “accelerate the pace of change” in increasing diversity and inclusion both on and off air.
The corporation stressed that to demonstrate that change was being delivered, they said it will report on progress in its Annual Report.
BBC bosses said that the move will aim to create content with in line with three priorities which includes diverse stories and portrayal on-screen, diverse production teams and talent and diverse-led production companies.
The Creative Diversity investment will be further aided by a number of additional commitments pledged today.
These commitments include running regular meet and greets across the country, to enable talent from traditionally under-represented minority groups to engage with BBC staff and external suppliers who shape the organisation’s creative output
Alongside this, the corporation said they will also work towards developing a comprehensive diverse digital database for the industry, and an accelerator program for on screen and off screen diverse talent.
A strategy will also be published to help the BBC’s creative staff and industry partners ensure diversity and inclusion is at the heart of production.
June Sarpong, Director of Creative Diversity, said: “I came to the BBC as an outsider.