Friday, March 2, 2012

BBC searches for 50-plus female newsreader



By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor 
5:57PM BST 24 Sep 2009


The BBC is at the centre of a fresh ageism row after announcing plans to hire a female newsreader aged 50-plus, only to be warned it would be breaching employment law.

Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, has asked news bosses to contact talent agents who have older women on their books. The recruitment drive follows the public backlash against the sacking of Arlene Phillips, the Strictly Come Dancing judge.

The BBC was heavily criticised for dispensing with female newsreaders Anna Ford, 65, and Moira Stuart, 60.


Moira Stuart was dropped by the BBC in 2007 

Ford left in 2006, saying that she feared "being shovelled off to a graveyard shift" if she remained.


Stuart was dropped in 2007 and Thompson was forced to defend the decision, saying it had nothing to do with ageism and arguing that the traditional newsreader role was dying out.


Dame Joan Bakewell, the broadcaster and government advisor on age issues, met with Thompson recently and said she was "really gratified" by the BBC's decision.


"I said there was a conspicuous absence of older women - of all the segments in society - that isn't seen. We get lots of jowly, white-haired men - that's no inhibitor of employment for them - but [age] seems to have been an eliminator for women until now."

However, employment lawyers said the new policy flouted age and sex discrimination laws. Jill Andrew of Dawsons LLP said: "The BBC seems to have got itself in a real pickle over this. Employers cannot specify that they are looking for someone of a particular gender or age. A young, up-and-coming male newsreader could have every right to feel aggrieved.

"Age discrimination applies to younger people being treated less favourably than older people, just as it does the other way around.

"The BBC is trying to redress an imbalance but you cannot correct an injustice by creating another injustice. It seems like a blatant attempt by the BBC to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

"There is no compensation ceiling for discrimination cases. Should the BBC find itself in front of an employment tribunal, they and ultimately the taxpayer could face a hefty bill."

It is unlikely that the recruitment drive will herald a return for Ford or Stuart, as neither have been approached by the BBC. It is thought bosses will look to radio or local television news for a new star.

Agents were sceptical about the announcement. Sue Ayton, who represents a number of current and former news presenters, said: "If the BBC are really doing this I am absolutely delighted, but if it's not a stunt then the BBC will have to change some of their views across the board.

"They say they are reaching out to find people, but they have the likes of Angela Rippon and Jennie Bond right under their noses. Both are journalists with years of experience and they are doing programmes for BBC daytime. If the BBC means what it says, why not put them back in primetime?"

A BBC spokesman said there were a number of 50-plus female presenters at the corporation, citing Kirsty Wark, the Newsnight presenter, Martha Kearney, host of Radio 4's The World at One, and Maxine Mawhinney, who presents the BBC One weekend bulletins.

"We are always looking to make sure we have the best presenters on BBC News representing a wide range of ages and backgrounds, including older women," the spokesman said.

"News has a pretty good story to tell with Kirsty Wark, Martha Kearney and Maxine Mawhinney all flourishing, as well as highly experienced women out in the field like Bridget Kendall, Caroline Wyatt and Orla Guerin.

"However, we'd be the first to say that it's important not to rest on our laurels in this area and ensure we reflect the public we serve. And of course this isn't an issue just for the BBC - other broadcasters face the same challenges."


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