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Access All Areas

The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond

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Access All Areas

By: Lenny Henry, Marcus Ryder
Narrated by: Lenny Henry
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About this listen

Sir Lenny Henry rang up the Office for National Statistics to confirm something he'd been thinking about for a long time. They told him that only 29.5% of the United Kingdom's population is made up of white, heterosexual, able-bodied men; so, he wonders, why do they still make up the vast majority of people we see in our media?

Joining forces with the former Chair of the Royal Television Society's Diversity Committee Marcus Ryder, he draws on decades of experience to reveal why recent efforts to diversify media have been thus far ineffective, and why they are simply not enough. With wit, humour and unflinching gravitas they analyse the flaws of current diversity initiatives, point out the structural and financial imbalances working against the cause, and provide clear solutions to get the media industry back on track.

Access All Areas is an urgent, actionable manifesto that will dramatically shift the debate around diversity and the media.

©2021 Lenny Henry (P)2021 Faber & Faber Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Policy Social Sciences Funny

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Would have got 5 stars but uses ableist language (feel free to find it yourself)

Would have got 5 stars but…

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An honest account of the British media, its influence and its potential. Lenny entertains the reader and highlights the tokenism still present in how the industry and society as a whole addressses the inequalities and injustices of race.

Thought provoking and entertaining!

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Very engaging and inspiring audio book. Well researched and passionate I am hopeful that change is coming.

Access All Areas Review

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First - this is NOT 'a diversity workshop' (which one of the authors himself confesses he dislikes!). It's instead a really useful insight in to the importance of *representation* - not necessarily diversity - primarily in the TV and media industry, but with relevance in other organisations too.

It's an extremely easy listen. I listened while running and it's not the kind of book you can stop and start at any time.

Told very well, with practical, real examples. A real lesson. Very glad I bought this. Highly recommended for media types, but really for anyone who's keen for their organisation to be and perform better - especially if you're in a leadership position. This should be on the curriculum in business schools across the country.

Interesting, insightful, USEFUL

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rather than just being a book about the difference they've made,
it lists the step by step actions they took to achieve them, allowing listeners with similar aims to follow suit

really enjoyable and informative

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After half a century in the business Sir Lenny Henry knows a thing or two about how television works and, in particular, what it feels like to be the only black person in the room; it is a lonely place to be indeed and he has been made to feel "always welcome but never at home". This short manifesto provides some startling facts about television which is controlled by "white, able bodied, straight men who live in London" despite only three percent of the UK population consisting of "white, able bodied, straight men who live in London". On this basis we are all minorities of some type and the call for diversity in the media is stronger than ever.
The issue, as our beloved Dudley funny man points out, is that production companies find ways of bending the rules if quotas are put on the proportion of diverse people working on programs. Sir Len decided to do something about inequalities in the TV industry and called on the government to provide tax breaks for diversity and these were listened to but not enthusiastically received. Never one to give up, he has now established the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Diversity in the Media.
Although this is a serious subject that Lenny cares about passionately, there are a few funny moments in this book too. The Titanic joke made me laugh anyway. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how British television works.

Short but important

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A smart, funny exploration of Equality and Diversity that exposes the resistance to real change at its core.

Refreshing!

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This is essential reading. A call to arms for everyone working in the media. It's no longer enough to wait for "someone to sort it out", everyone in the media business needs to be working for the 96.9%.

Lenny's reading made it even more engaging.

Essential

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