https://www.sharemytellyjob.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/logo.svg There has been so much bad press surrounding TV in recent weeks, about the working culture and the treatment of people who make it.
The Mental Health crisis was clearly shown through the findings in the Film and TV Charity’s recent industry survey which produced horrifying results regarding the state of mind of TV freelancers.
Read the foreword from Alex Pumfrey, CEO of Film and TV Charity here:
https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/news-event/the-whole-picture-programme-by-our-ceo-alex-pumfrey/
TV employment is a big and complex beast and as Alex rightly states, there are no quick fixes. There are aims to introduce guidelines and implement better working practices by 2030. It’s something, but for many freelancers it will all come too late.
Last year, we contacted Ofcom to talk about the glaring problems for freelancers in the TV industry. They had produced a Diversity report based on TV freelancers, the first of its kind. The data is flawed in many ways as the Dimond Diversity survey is rarely completed by freelancers and some genres, such a News & Sport, just don’t collect/provide data.
We are meeting with OFCOM on Wednesday 4th March to discuss all of the issues faced in the industry along with the unreliable collection of data and the skewed figures presented by Broadcasters. The diversity data reports show that the broadcasters are hitting targets, making improvements and providing support to employees – which they are – for their STAFF – we want freelancers to have the same right to request flexibility as those who are on the payroll.
Amongst other topics we want to discuss with Ofcom how change will happen. Without pressure from them (Ofcom) the broadcasters will not react. Without new, solid regulation about how broadcasters manage their commissions and how programmes and indie’s should be staffed and monitored, change won’t happen.
We’ll report back on how it goes which will hope will shed some positive light on how things may change in telly in the coming years. We’re amused many reports and the data is there in black and white – something seriously isn’t working. Now, we just need to fix it. It would be a relief to read some positive news about the industry wouldn’t it?!
READ THE OFCOM FREELANCERS REPORT HERE