The BBC finds itself entangled in a controversy over inclusivity as a training course designed to enhance the representation of female production staff is extended to men identifying as women. The Mail has more.
The six-day course, called ‘BBC: Female Self-Shooters’, was designed to teach women how to become camera operators – a role that has long been male-dominated in companies across the industry.
An advert shared around the Corporation says of the course: “Aimed at female (and those identifying as female) TV producers or those at producer level, who will be in a position to use the acquired skills after the training, e.g. as second camera operators, shooting taster tapes or directing your own self-shot film. If self-shooting camera skills are a barrier to your progress, this is the course for you!”
The cost of the training programme – which is due to be held in Belfast and will teach skills such as “storytelling, shooting for the edit and interview essentials”, is fully funded by the BBC.
However, female staff are said to be “cross and upset” that the initiative allows for non-biological women to apply and believe a separate course could be offered for those identifying as women.
A source at the Corporation said: “It’s a good thing that the BBC want to increase the number of females doing technical, behind-the-camera jobs, but would it be really too much to ask that the course could just be for women?”
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