Is Radio Racist?

20th Feb 07

Tiger Tiger

How easy is it to get into radio when your skin’s not white?

Why, when so many BME students have been media trained, don’t they stick around in radio?

Are those who do sidelined into ‘ethnic’ programmes?

Has 1Xtra, Asian Network, and Choice FM ghettoised radio?

Why do employers say they don’t get enough applications from minority groups?

LBC’s James O’Brien will be hosting the session, and asking the opinions of BBC Five Live’s Dotun Adebayo, Virgin’s Neil Francis, Choice FM’s Ivor Etienne, and broadcast and print journalist, Maggie Gu. He’ll be delving in to the heart of diversity in the UK radio industry, and asking ‘why doesn’t radio reflect the diversity of UK society, are attitudes changing and can mainstream radio absorb BME talent?’. Come along and hear how and why our guests got into radio, what experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – they’ve had in local and network radio, both commercial and BBC, and what advice they’d give to young minority ethnic groups students. We’ll also be inviting questions from the audience – some of whom have been specially invited to share their expertise in the field…

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