Disabled people still underrepresented on television – survey
10th October 2006
The majority of television viewers say they would like to see more disabled people on screen, according to a new survey.
The results of the poll, carried out last week, were announced last night to senior players in the industry, at a meeting of the Broadcasting & Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN).
Seventy-seven per cent of those polled said they would not find if offensive to see a disabled person hosting a mainstream television programme, and only 9 per cent said they didn't want to see people with ‘severe' disabilities in programmes such as soaps or quiz shows.
Other results from the survey included:
- 4% of adults disagreed with the statement that it is good to see more disabled people on TV these days.
- 78% agreed that they would not be bothered if a disabled person presented the main evening news.
- Only 9% disagreed with the statement that there should be more portrayals of disabled people on TV in a wider variety of roles.
Lydia Thomas, Chair of Ofcom's Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People said: "There is now a greater range of programming involving disabled people ever before.
"However, there is still too much focus on conditions rather than on disabled people as people, and this is something the industry needs to address."
Ends
Notes to editors
The BCIDN met on 09 October 2006 to review on progress on the Network's Disability manifesto, launched in May 2002. The manifesto's key commitments were:
- To increase the presence of disabled people on air and on screen.
- To increase the number of disabled people in all areas of the workforce.
- To increase access to services, on and off air.
- To ensure access to buildings.
At the time each member organisation produced an individualised action plan detailed how they intended to implement the disability manifesto.
BCIDN member companies also announced a raft of new initiatives to increase the portrayal of disabled people in programming and increase the numbers of disabled staff.
- ITV will be working closely with Scope and others to offer a number of traineeships from November 2006.
- BBC has met most of the portrayal targets it set in 2002 and these are now being reviewed with a view to setting more demanding targets.
- BBC has begun monitoring portrayal of disability on screen during peak periods.
- Access requirements are built into all BBC new technology developments such as the BBC iPlayer.
- The BBC is the only member to have employment targets for disability - 4% by 2007.
- BBC has produced the first independent research into learning disabled audiences.
- The COI (central Office of Information) announced that 45% of government advertising now included disabled people.
- Turner Broadcasting System has integrated disability awareness training for all managers and other key staff.
- Turner Broadcasting System is extending its internship scheme to disabled people for the first time.
- Channel 4 Television is investing £250,000 per annum in [providing training and employment opportunities for disabled people. These include work placements in a variety of Independent suppliers to C4, 6 new researcher traineeships, a 1 year C4 News traineeship and a Project Co-ordinator for Cinema Extreme.
- A new Channel 4 twelve part documentary series (4 Real) will give disabled directors a chance to gain their first broadcast credit.
- Five is to provide a one year traineeship for a disabled journalist with Sky News.
- Five is considering introducing targets for the emp0loyment of disabled people.
- Five has worked with Channel 4 to produce a DVD for producers highlighting the problem of intrusive background music for hearing impaired audiences.
- ITV admitted that disability is behind cultural diversity as an issue that people are aware of and are taking on board. Simon Shaps suggested that ethnicity was easier for people to respond to.
- PACT is about to launch a new Diversity Pledge and 57 member companies have already signed up to it.
- Skillset employs more people who are willing to declare a disability than any other BCIDN member - 7% of staff.
- Skillset provides advice and support to disabled people under a variety of schemes eg Skillset TV Freelancers Scheme.
- Skillset is working to provide an industry standard for monitoring disabled staff.
The Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN) is a specialist network of Employers' Forum on Disability, including the UK's leading broadcasters and other creative and media organisations. Members work together to improve their ability to recruit and retain disabled people and to share best practice across the industry. The BCIDN is also concerned with encouraging more representation of disabled people in the media, as well as access for disabled people to programming and services.
The Network's members are: BBC, BSkyB, Channel 4 Television, Central Office of Information (COI), Discovery Networks Europe, Five, ITV, PACT, Skillset, Turner Broadcasting Systems and the UK Film Council. Its Chair is David Kogan.
Original Action Plans are available on the BCIDN website - http://www.employers-forum.co.uk/ and go to broadcasters.
The ‘You Gov' Survey results were based on an online representative sample of the UK adult population . Sample size was 2716. Fieldwork was conducted between 3rd-6th October 2006. The You Gov questionnaire yielding the following results to the question ‘Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?':
- I think it's good that you see more disabled people on TV these days.
- Agree 49%; neither agree/disagree 45%; disagree 4%; don't know 2%.
- It would not bother me if a disabled person read the main evening news.
- Agree 78%; neither agree/disagree 15|%; disagree 5%; don't know 2%.
- I would find it offensive to see a disabled person hosting a programme like a chat show.
- Agree 6%; neither agree/disagree 15%; disagree 77%; don't know 2%.
- I think there should be more portrayals of disabled people on tv in a wider variety of roles.
- Agree 43%; neither agree/disagree 46%; disagree 9%; don't know 2%.
- I don't want to see people with disfigurements or ‘severe' disabilities in mainstream programming such as soaps or quiz shows.
- Agree 9%; neither agree/disagree 27%; disagree 61%; don't know 4%.
- 18% of the UK population (nearly 10 million people) is disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act definition.
For more information about the BCIDN or for further quotes or comment on any of the above, contact either:
Chair: David Kogan, Reel Enterprises, 020 7255 8155 or dkogan@reelenterprises.com
Or BCIDN manager: Clare Morrow at clare.morrow@efd.org.uk
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.