Move On Up in Radio launched

BECTU is planning a major event for black and minority ethnic workers in radio, alongside industry partners.

Move On Up in Radio mirrors last year's union-initiated event for TV and film ethnic workers, which was supported by dozens of production companies and industry figures.

Find details of participating executives in the official brochure

Aimed at black/minority ethnic (BME) radio professionals looking for new opportunities, the event is also meant to be an unmissable opportunity for people just starting out in radio, or BME print journalists wanting to move into the industry.

BME media workers and new entrants are invited to apply by 1 September for a one to one meeting with a choice of 74 executives from across the radio industry.

The big national radio stations and London's major radio stations are all represented: BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live, the World Service, the Asian Network, BBC London, Capital Radio, LBC, Choice FM, 1Xtra, Magic, Galaxy, plus Independent Radio News, brand new stations and independent production companies.

The successful applicants will have 20-minute one-to-one meetings with executives and attend workshops on Friday 27 October at the TUC, Great Russell St, London WC1.

This event, organised by BECTU in partnership with the NUJ and the radio industry, has been funded primarily by the Equal Fund under the AudioVisual Industry Development Partnership led by Skillset and the UK Film Council.

It has also been generously supported by the London Development Agency's Diversity Works programme and Creative London. Further support has come from the BBC and the TUC.

The organisers of Move On Up in Radio hope that the contacts made through the meetings at this event will in the long run lead to new opportunities for the BME participants.

The urgent need for a big push on diversity in radio is clear: Skillset research indicates that as few as 1.8% of those working in broadcast radio are BME.

"The BBC has been a fantastic longterm supporter of the union's Move On Up initiative," says Janice Turner, the organiser of the programme. "We've also been delighted by the enthusiastic support we've had from the commercial radio sector."

The impressive line-up of 74 executives ranges from Andy Parfitt, Controller of Radio 1 and Mark Damazer, Controller of Radio 4, to Ivor Etienne, Managing Director of Choice FM, Bill Griffin, MD of Kiss and Jon Godel, Editor of IRN.

BECTU's black members' committee, which drives the Move On Up programme, is urging Black and minority ethnic media workers to take full advantage of this incredible opportunity and apply for meetings with the executives.

BME writers and journalists will see that there are many opportunities to meet executives appropriate for them, and the NUJ's Black Members' Council is partnering BECTU with Move On Up in Radio and will be drawing the event to the attention of BME print journalists considering a move into radio as well as radio journalists.

For further information phone BECTU on 020 7346 0900 and ask for Move On Up in Radio, or email [email protected].