Strategies for diversity on television: the cases of US and UK

Abstract

In this article, we will expose, shortly, the conclusions of several studies about the diversity existent on television in the US and in the United Kingdom. We start with the explanation of the concept of diversity considered in each study, followed by the importance of this issue and the legal framework in both countries. Then, we will analyse the current landscape regarding diversity, the goals TV stations must achieve and the several strategies proposed by researchers so that voice is given to the communities the TV stations are intended, namely through the inclusion of either minorities and women, in the content, employment or ownership. All the studies taken into account point to the need of making many changes in order to get diversity, inside and outside the screen, proportional to the distribution of the population on these countries.