Every department at the Channel has been given an onscreen diversity target and the number of ethnic minorities appearing in all our programmes is monitored.
This information pack is designed to help production companies find Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people to participate in Channel 4 programmes. It is a directory of groups, organisations and individuals who can be contacted as potential contributors or as a starting point to locate participants. It ranges from academics to community groups, from the ethnic minority press to online magazines, from student associations to national organisations.
We have listed contact details including telephone numbers, email and website addresses. We have also provided a brief description of the entry and where applicable, listed information on whether the website carries message boards or forums for posting requests.
There are a number of ways that this information can be used:
- Contacting the organisations and finding a suitable way of reaching potential participants.
- Placing requests in forums and on message boards or creating 'news' content for websites.
- Requesting web editors to send out information to their email subscribers.
- A number of the larger organisations have newsletters or intranets for members and staff that can be used effectively to find potential contributors.
The pack is intended merely as a starting point. It is not comprehensive and needs to be adapted and used creatively. Other options to explore include; using local and minority press, contacting workplaces and local authorities, and getting in touch with student associations and clubs. Beonscreen.com is a UK based website for people wanting to appear on TV and can prove useful. Should the programme have a Channel 4 website associated with it, try contacting the C4 web editor to place a request for participants on the site.
We are keen to update information and contacts wherever possible. Please send any suggestions of experts or organisations that you feel should be included to Ade Rawcliffe, Diversity and Talent Manager,at Channel 4.