Industry luminaries and politicians pledge their support to Inaugural CDN Diversity Awards

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and leading Broadcasting industry figures lent their support to the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) on 24th November; recording messages for the show-reel that opened the inaugural CDN Diversity Awards.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said “…No industry can afford to run the risk of missing out on great talent so I was so pleased to hear about the Diversity Pledge for the creative industries and I applaud the Broadcasters for this initiative, and the independent production companies for signing this pledge. After all, Diversity is just about representing Britain in all its richness, so do the right thing, support the diversity pledge”.

The nominees and winners were:

1. Excellence in creative output - diverse content (Industry vote on Broadcastnow.co.uk)

  • WINNER - Heavy Load, BBC Storyville (Met Film Ltd, HI8US)
  • Adha Cup, Channel 4 (IWC Media)
  • Afghan Star, More4 (Roast Beef Productions)
  • Born To Be Different, Channel 4 (Ricochet)
  • Endgame, Channel 4 (Daybreak Pictures)
  • Here's Johnny, More4 (Animal Monday)
  • Kojo's Comedy Funhouse, MTV (Remedy Productions)
  • The Autistic Me, BBC (Firecracker Films)
  • The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, BBC 1 (Mirage Enterprises, The Weinstein Company, HBO)
  • Zig Zag Love, BBC 1 (Machine Productions)

2. Excellence in creative output - making diversity more mainstream (Industry vote on Broadcastnow.co.uk)

  • WINNER - Find Me A Family, Channel 4 (Betty)
  • Big Brother, Channel 4 (Remarkable Television, formerly Brighter Pictures)
  • Come Dine With Me, Channel 4 (ITV Studios)
  • EastEnders, BBC 1 (BBC Drama Production)
  • Eggheads, BBC 2 (12 Yard Productions)
  • Jamie's American Road Trip, Channel 4 (Fresh One)
  • Skins, Channel 4 (Company Productions)
  • The Secret Millionaire, Channel 4 (RDF Television)
  • The Street, BBC 1 (ITV Studios)
  • Who Do You Think You Are? BBC 1 (Wall to Wall)

3. Excellence in off-screen recruitment

  • WINNER - OLGA TV
  • Ginger Productions
  • LIME Pictures
  • Maverick/Redbird

4. Outstanding contribution to promoting diversity

  • WINNER - Tessa Ross, Head of Film & Drama, Channel 4
  • Marsha Witter, Foundation Placement Scheme Manager, Yorkshire & Humber
  • Sara Hanson, Talent & Diversity Manager, ITV Studios
  • Simon Dickson, Deputy Head of Documentaries, Channel 4

5. Special Recognition Award

    The fifth award is a special category recognising those unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to promote diversity. The winner will be chosen by the CDN members and revealed on the night.

  • WINNER - Bob Clarke, Founder, MAMA Youth Project
  • Kate Vogel, Former Editor of 3-Minute Wonder, Channel 4
  • Simone Pennant, TV Collective
  • Think Bigger (Clare Beagley & Edi Smokum)

CDN LAUNCHES DIVERSITY AWARDS TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN THE INDUSTRY

The Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) has announced a new awards ceremony, The CDN Diversity Awards, to celebrate, congratulate and promote excellence in diverse, creative output in the TV sector. The awards will take place on November 24th at Channel 4, and will be hosted by Alan Carr - with support lent from other high profile special guests including Idris Elba, better known as The Wire's Stringer Bell.

In April this year, the CDN launched its Diversity Pledge, a public commitment by independent production companies, in-house producers and other suppliers to take measurable steps to improve diversity. The awards will be a chance to celebrate the good work being done by production companies across the four Pledge areas so far, as well as other fields in which they have helped promote diversity.

There are four awards open for nominations - The CDN is encouraging in house producers and production companies to put their shows forward for consideration by providing a submission of a DVD and a brief synopsis.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY (CDN AWARDS)

  • Programme entries must have first been transmitted between 1 September 2008 and 31 September 2009 in the UK.
  • Nominations and entries will only be accepted from terrestrial and digital broadcasters as well as Independent Companies.
  • All content should be submitted as a full episode or programme and not a montage.
  • Broadcasters and production companies can submit their programmes and nominations for the other awards for consideration to awards@culturaldiversitynetwork.co.uk, in the following four categories:

1. Excellence in creative output - diverse content
(Industry vote on Broadcastnow.co.uk)

Programmes with diverse content/about diverse issues. It also covers disability, class, gender, age, sexuality, and religion or belief. Examples are The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Born to Be Different, Shooting Party, On Tour with the Queen, The Boy whose Skin Fell Off, Endgame, Caribbean Cops, Seven Wonders of the Muslim World. Walter Tull: Forgotten Hero, Moses Jones, Levi Roots' Caribbean Kitchen, Autistic Me, The Grandparent Diarie

2. Excellence in creative output - making diversity more mainstream
(Industry vote on Broadcastnow.co.uk)

Programmes that encourage diversity in mainstream media e.g. using diverse contributors to look at mainstream subjects, or mainstream shows with diverse contributors. Examples are Eastenders, Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent, X Factor, Extraordinary People: The Human Camera, Hairspray: The School Musical, The Prisoner, Come Dine with Me, Secret Millionaire, Eggheads (a Deaf Team Winning)

3. Excellence in off-screen recruitment

Examples of independent production companies who have made an effort to ensure their staff - whether permanent or freelance - are diverse. Also companies that have incorporated diversity into their company values or ethos and /or have meaningfully changed attitudes to diversity within their company. Diversity is defined in its widest sense, incorporating under-represented groups in the media such as ethnic minorities, disabled people, and low-income groups. For more information on diversity please see www.culturaldiversitynetwork.co.uk

4. Outstanding contribution to promoting diversity

An individual at either a broadcaster or an Indie who has championed the cause of diversity.

Find out more about CDN Diversity Pledge