BBC Executive: Sack those who don't achieve their diversity targets

Last week, Danielle and I debated Clear Channel's decision to donate radio stations to the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council in an effort to increase women and minority ownership in broadcasting. While I wasn't willing to bet on the media industry's diversity efforts, especially in broadcasting, Danielle was more idealistic. See the complete post here.

Today, Travel Channel's British head Pat Younge, who is expected to return to the BBC next year in charge of the channel's in-house program-making, demanded accountability by saying that top executives who fail to achieve their diversity targets "should be sacked."  This, in the aftermath of the BBC releasing its annual report which showed the broadcasting corporation missing diversity targets set by itself. Aiming to have 7 percent of its senior managers to be minorities, the corporation achieved a whopping 5.6 percent.

Mr. Younge, who is one of very few Black executives at the BBC went on to suggest that this was because of an overarching problem with attracting a multicultural workforce behind the cameras. He was quoted in The Daily Mail saying, "'I will have my own targets when I join BBC Vision and I must live up to what I have said - or face losing my job. 'Diversity will be a big focus for me when I return to the corporation."

You can read the complete article here. BBC has for long been the subject of irate complains for its lack of diversity. Former Director-General of the BBC, Greg Dyke has been famously known to call it "hideously white." While his caustic remarks mark yet another prod for the broadcasting industry to surface into reality, this time by one of its very own producers, will it make a difference?