Sadiq Khan urges OFCOM to tackle lack of diversity in the UK’s broadcasting industry

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by Matt Martino

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on broadcasting regulator Ofcom to adopt new measures to improve the current lack of diversity in the UK’s broadcasting industry.

The Mayor agrees with Ofcom’s assessment that a lack of diversity in broadcasting is creating a “cultural disconnect” between programme-makers and viewers.

Chief Executive of Ofcom Sharon White has recently criticised British broadcasters for a “woeful” lack of diversity among their staff and specifically singled out the BBC for failing to lead the way on this issue.

He has joined forces with actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry to call on the regulator to provide more robust scrutiny of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) diversity in the sector.

In a letter to Sharon White, Sadiq sets out proposals to improve BAME diversity in the industry which include creating an industry-wide definition of a diverse ‘BAME production’