Unity 08 in Chicago, Disunity in London - Super Diversity the movie

Pic courtesy of Shashank

Unity in Chicago, Disunity in London: as you read this scores of journalists of colour are congregating in Chicago.

It is that time again, a four year in cycle in which ethnic media networks join forces.

That is the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association

And at 10,000 journalists and media execs, what a force it is.

If Unity 1996 in Atlanta, which I attended is anything to go by, after me altogether: "wow!"

Then just as now, employment, equality, sustainability will be on the menu.

And via satellite, or often in person, the Clintons will make their own pilgrimage to pay respect.

An African American editor on your side delivers a powerful message both visually for that photo op and to the editor's constituents if votes are needed.

Perhaps this year, the Clinton's will give way, but the jamboree of zeal, "lets push forward" motive and expand, consolidate, expand sermon will be no less.

Oh by the way, yep just learned it's Gworge double yer talking to Unity.


More Unity 08 and disunity
In Chicago, conference goers might play down their successes; it's all relative after all, but compared to what's going on in London broad success amongst ethnic journalists is as elusive as that bloke, Nato's pursuing.

What's his name, Radovan Karadzic .

Last week Channel 4 upped the ante or played a brilliant PR card at ticking boxes as some of the industry's most senior "unity" journalists gathered to hear what race Czar Trevor Phillips had planned in a make-believe reality game "Super Diversity".

Channel 4 endorsed. A big brother for ethnics? It was their commissioning money after all.

So here's where I link to the report, but stone the crows I google and google and I can't find it.

Who's Channel 4's link-builder, c'mon? Here's a less obvious alternative link instead.

A day later and the vibrancy of emails messaging journalists to attend Trevor's speech looks like something that took place in the Jurassic age; emails aren't being returned by Channel 4's execs, no one I asked has any idea of the follow ups and it's back to training binoculars on the box looking for that rare thing.

There's one! And another.. Oh yes and that one too. people of colour.

Unity 24 hours before, is now disunity.

So much for a new dawn.


Disunity breads unity, right!
Most media (ethnic) Brits, can only look to the US unfairly with envy. Unfairly because the dynamics are different, and frankly it's a larger playing field to pool resources and find your next job.

If you want a career in broadcasting in the UK, count the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and the super indies and the super employers are fast drying up.

But there is something to be said about "Unity", which if I was a TV exec I might be having a right giggle into my Moca.

The TV industry built on favours, suffrage and Uni links knocks out many journalists of colour from getting a look in, and what hope for those on the sharp end unifying is as elusive as that, er what's his name: Radovan Karadzic

This office isn't big enough for the both of us, is the missive that dare not speak it's name, so er I'm not going to share with you where I work.

Truth though within the pitches for work, it always appears to be an appeal to a sense of fair play, which has never really worked. "please, please gisa job?"

When, however the internet posed a threat, economics rather than morals played out a much stronger card and it looked like execs were beginning to shift ground.

Digital Diversity, was a thought for a short film shown in Berlin which wraps up both contemporary and traditional issues of diversity and poses a couple of questions which I hope looks beyond the current jousting rounds.

As Orlando Sentinel Editor Anthony Moor said in his seminal article; Go to the web young journalists. The web is yet, just, to be colonised into the old ways of media.

The past is passed
But this schism on all sides wasn't always like that as Mssr David Upshal (now a heavy hitting tv exec) and Joel Kibazo (formerly of the FT) will tell you when we gathered of Oxford Street for drinks and chats in the early 90s.

What would we be doing in years to come and who could help whom?

Ho hum.

So the pass the parcel of work continues.

Ethnics blame the media. The media, as Trevor Phillips put it and I have always held this belief, shrugs its shoulders: I owe you nothing.

And anyway it's not as big an issue as it's often made out, is it?

Otherwise there might be some unity.

What! Radovan Karadzic's been caught. Hope yet huh!

David Dunkley Gyimah started his broadcast career in 87 at the BBC in Leicester and has since worked for Newsnight, Channel 4 News, ABC News, PowerHouse, Breakfast News, BBC GLR, Channel One and others. He's now senior lecturer, consultant and Phd Student believes if you want it bad enough, you'll get it.
You can find clips of digital diversity 2 - the series on viewmagazine.tv

Role models - who decides who is and not?

They are never seen nor heard. They are a silent minority going about their work, selflessly, under the radar.

They're like government advisors, civil servants.

Now whilst I could be referring to my colleagues above - all lecturers, all leaders in their field - I'm not referring to them.

Though many of them mentor already.

No, we've chosen a path to work with the next generation. Many mentors are called upon to do something that's almost diametric to their journey.

However many are mentors-in-waiting if you were to consider my vote in Paul Macey - more on him in a moment.

But why all the talk of mentors?

The UK government's gone on a mentor drive to assist failing youngsters, black youngsters who need guidance.

No this is not a punt to get on the scheme but indulge in a debate of sorts.


mentor?
Who decides who's a mentor?

What criteria is required and is it universal?

Can your mentoring badge qualify you to speak to students as much as those already in the criminal justice system?

Is the racing car driver Lewis Hamilton a mentor? Or is Shirley Thompson, an amazing woman, multiple award winning composer who's scored for the Royal Philharmonic, Push and played had her scores played on Broadway?

Does Hamilton have what it takes to mentor a troubled teenager from the life of crime?

Would most black youngsters want to listen to Shirley talk classical music?

Incidentally Shirley's opus -an album called New Nation Rising mixes classical with the spoken word - awesome!

Must a mentor have something in common with their charge?

Because then the governments could call on Britain's talented black musicians or footballers?

Or does that reinforce an aged stereotype?

What about Kienda Hoji on the far left?

Chinese speaking, but equally if not more important Director of music at the University of Westminster, who has revolutionised the programme. He's past has involved looking after a number of high profile bands. He was responsible for getting Russel Simmons and Reverend Run to the University. He has launched the only, as far as I know, record label, within a university.

Do you know him?


Mykael Rilley second from right was a founding member of Dub reggae outfit Steel Pulse and founded and fronted the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. Equally awesome, he's in the middle of his PhD on amongst others archiving jazz music etc. And is a tour de force.


Far right is the extraordinary David Matthews, lecturing in journalism, behind two very well received books that exercises the art of gonzism. In one Dave becomes a boxer, Looking for a fight, to write about his account. In the other he buys a grey hound dog to understand what grey hound racing is all about in Man Buys Dog - A Loser's Guide to the World of Greyhound Racing

Does Dave( street-sussed) Matthews qualify as a mentor?

We took this photo last year, dreaming up what could be done when you combine education with ones own professional background.

There are untold number of mentor schemes, and I'm sure we'll do something which doesn't have the bells and whistles but gets the job done. As lecturers that's what we do.

It will be interesting to see who makes it onto the Government's Mentor Scheme. Oh Yes!


My choice: one of the hardest working, nicest guys, whose experience with young people at the coal face is outstanding is Paul Macey, whom I had the pleasure of getting to know when many years back five of us launched a creative multi-disciplinary agency.

In an article one viewmagazine, I'll flesh out Mentors with video etc and comments from the aforementioned themselves.

And later today, hopefully I'll find some links of my colleagues above, mainly from films I have shot of them.