News Broadcasting
BBC’s Dyke to chair Cultural Diversity Network
LONDON: The BBC’s director general Greg Dyke will take over the chairmanship of the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) from Channel 4 for one year from December.
An official release informs that the CDN began in 2000 when all the major British television broadcasters joined forces to change the face of television. They work towards fair representation of Britain’s ethnic population on screen and behind the camera.
Dyke had the following remarks to make – “Broadcasters are working hard to make the industry more diverse and ensure its relevance to today’s audiences. I hope by being Chair of the CDN the BBC can make a real contribution to this. For example, we have just completed major research into what ethnic minority audiences want to see on screen, and how we can better portray different people’s lives. This is just one of the things that will help us chair the CDN in this next key phase.”
The outgoing Chair of CDN and Channel 4 CEO Mark Thompson added, “There is real commitment to cultural diversity at the most senior level of all the companies in the CDN. At Channel 4 we have recently for the first time funded training schemes to encourage ethnic minorities into the industry in partnership with our key suppliers, and have funded three ethnic minority trainee deputy commissioning editors. Changes do not happen overnight, but all the broadcasters have kept diversity at the top of their agenda and as a body we are moving in the right direction.”
CDN’s basic objecftives are:
– Set targets for ethnic minority employment, including senior executive levels
– Establish an online database of ethnic minority talent – Modernising the casting and portrayal of ethnic minorities in mainstream programming
– Share non-commercially sensitive research on cultural diversity
– Obtain a comprehensive picture of ethnic minority employment in UK broadcasting
– Establish industry standards for the collection of ethnic monitoring data
– Sensitise the broadcasters so that they call for diversity in content and employment
– Raise the profile of multicultural issues through a series of events
Carlton’s Clive Jones was the brains behind the CDN. In 1995 Carlton commissioned research showed that it was loosing large chunks of its Black and Asian audiences to cable and satellite channels. ITC and BSC research confirmed these findings and added that ethic minorities found terrestrial TV to be increasingly irrelevant to their lives.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
