The role of social class on screen and behind the scenes of television is being explored by a team lead by a Leeds academic.
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Beth Johnson from Professor of Television and Media Studies at the University of Leeds’ School of Media and Communication will work with the BBC, Channel 4 and Candour Productions on the study.
“From policy concerns about working class access to the sector, through to class as a prominent point of discussion in BAFTA award winners’ speeches, class is important to national conversations about TV,” explained Professor Johnson.
“Research shows that class is crucial in shaping what gets commissioned for television, who gets roles on and off screen, and the sorts of representations of social class that are broadcast and made available to download or stream. Despite efforts to level the playing field, the TV workforce remains dominated by those from professional and managerial backgrounds; labour market structures and pay rates advantage those with economic and social resources; and experiences of working class individuals are misunderstood and misrepresented.”
They’ll explore the full production process, from production to reception, using 2 dramas and look at the backgrounds of the people making the show, how social class is represented and then interpreted by viewers.
Candour Productions will create a film based on the findings.
“We are really pleased to be taking part in this project as it lies at the heart of the work of the creative diversity team,” added Channel 4 Creative Diversity Lead, Neila Butt.
“This gives us an opportunity to explore and help in the research of the socio-economic backgrounds of on and off-screen representation within our programmes and the wider industry. It helps focus on an area in the evolving landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion.”
BBC Head of Creative Diversity, Jessica Schibli said:
“As a public service broadcaster, we’re committed to providing value for all audiences, so we’re pleased to be supporting this project. It will provide a comprehensive understanding of how social class helps shape the television industry from commissioning to production, especially in the genre of television drama. The research will also provide insights on how audiences respond to socio-economic diversity on screen.”
The project, entitled, What’s on? Rethinking class in television, is the first of its kind to consider how inequalities such as race, gender and sexuality intersect with social class.
Professor Johnson’s team includes Professor Dave O’Brien (University of Manchester), Dr Laura Minor (University of Salford), and a two-year post-doctoral researcher.
“Candour are delighted to be involved in this piece of crucial research,” said Anna Hall, Creative Director at Candour Productions.
“We surveyed all our team recently and found that 67% of our staff came from a lower socio-economic background. This is virtually unheard of in TV and we are so proud that we can continue to champion film-makers and TV professionals from a range of diverse backgrounds to work with us. But more still needs to be done and this research will play a huge role in understanding why there continue to be so many barriers.”
