The BBC is inviting television professionals from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME), as well as with a disability, to apply for the BBC Content Commissioner Development Program. The program is a key part of the BBC’s ambition to embed diversity within everything the corporation does, on and off screen.
The scheme will offer training placements on BBC Two and BBC Three as well as across Daytime, Entertainment, Comedy and Factual, and a further placement in Drama will follow. Applications are sought from BAME and disabled candidates with editorial experience – as Series or Senior Producer, Editor, Exec or similar – so that they can build on this experience through the training and development provided.
Successful candidates will gain an insight into commissioning at the highest level, which BBC hopes will enable them to go on to help shape the future of broadcasting across the industry, making sure content is innovative, distinctive and reflective of the whole of the UK.
Building on their existing expertise gained from within TV, successful candidates will be placed alongside experts from the BBC to deepen their understanding of commissioning, develop new skills and gain invaluable practical experience.
They will receive industry-standard training, starting with a five day intensive boot camp, and including a whole host of master classes and workshops across the course of the year.
Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content, says: “It’s important that the BBC represents the whole of the UK in all its diversity, and part of that is ensuring a range of voices in the commissioning process. This program gives up and coming talent the opportunity to undertake training at the heart of BBC Content and we hope will play a vital part in developing the next generation of commissioners and executive producers”.
Alison Kirkham, Controller, BBC Factual Commissioning, says: “If you have the right experience, care about increasing diverse representation on TV and are disabled or from a minority ethnic background, we want you to apply. We want to reflect modern Britain in a way that is authentic – and to do that, we welcome fresh perspectives and want to encourage participation from BAME and disabled individuals who are currently underrepresented in commissioning”.
The training program builds on the success of the BBC’s Assistant Commissioner Scheme, launched in 2015, which gave six media professionals the opportunity to learn from BBC Commissioners. Alumni from the scheme have gained experience in the Commissioning teams on a wide range of programs including “The Hip Hop World News” (BBC Four), “Muslims Like Us” (BBC Two) and across the recent “Black and British” Season including “Black and British: A Forgotten History” (BBC Two, pictured) and “Roots, Reggae, Rebellion” (BBC Four).
The program delivers on commitments made in the BBC’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Applications must be made through the BBC Careers site, where more information is also available. The program is open for applications now and will close on December 19, 2016.
