Ex-BBC man: 'Women aren't the only victims of ageism'

Michael Cole claims that men suffer from age discrimination too.

By Andrew Pugh Published 04 April 2012

Anna Ford, pictured here at her first BBC broadcast in 1978, has complained about ageism. Photograph: Getty Images

Former BBC correspondent Michael Cole has claimed that ageing female broadcasters should stop complaining about sexism and defended producers’ right to choose presenters “regardless of age, gender, colour or race”.

Writing exclusively in the latest edition of Press Gazette magazine, Cole said men were just as likely to suffer from discrimination at the BBC and claimed to have endured five years of rejection because he looked too young.

“I have to smile every time a middle-aged female television presenter comes out of the shrubbery complaining that her honour has been tarnished by those wicked people at the BBC who have failed to promote her, to renew her contract or, in extreme cases, sacked her,” said Cole.

“What do these women expect? It matters how you look on television. The studio lights aren’t kind to ageing skin. Without exception, they all got their first jobs on the box when they were young. And they got those jobs, at least in part, because of their looks.”

Cole said producers should be free to choose presenters "regardless of age, gender, colour or race” and argued that casting was one of the most potent factors in the success of any programme.

To read more, visit Press Gazette.

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Tags: bbc

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3 comments

Wed, 2012-06-13 15:20 — Andrew Chapman (not verified)

This is quite a good article. Many new questions emerge to the surface, all you need do is to read further information about the issues. Only then one can form a final view on a particular subject. Otherwise everything is seen only in the dimension of how to cum more black and white. The natural logic of pr agentura evaluating things before catering they were properly cognitively processed is a horrible mistake, made by those less intelligent. People should not throw away their common ubytovanie na slovensku sense easily. Anything and everything deserves appropriate time for making judgements.

Sat, 2012-04-07 18:38 — mbrecker (not verified)

And now for something completely different. A major flaw in Cole's argument.

Networks should be free to hire whoever they want. It's their business. Now, some questions:

If he was treated so unfairly for five years, why didn't he sue for discrimination?
Aren't all broadcasters licensed by the govt? Isn't one condition of having said license to reflect and serve the community you broadcast to? Or, is that some silly old regulation that nobody cares about anymore?
Look at US TV for a moment. The top three network newscasts have 2 men over 50 and one woman over 60 as anchors. All three are white. When was the last time there was a national news anchor of color? Answer: back in the '80s. However, his network decided to go with three anchors (him and two white guys).

Why? Is it because management decided sorry mate. But you're just not good enough? Is it because it's our network, and we do whatever the hell we want? Most of the time you only see people of color as fill-ins or on weekends. What does that tell you? You're good enough for the network. But you just don't test well enough with our consultants to justify being in the top job?

A suggestion. If you really feel you've been discriminated against, don't wait and then cash in on someone else's press coverage to maximize your own case.

Thu, 2012-04-05 12:23 — JG (not verified)

"And they got those jobs, at least in part, because of their looks.”

Right on the mark, in my professional experience working for public broadcasting.

Equally, I know from experience that skilled men are often thwarted in their careers because of unspoken, unofficial "policies" aimed at putting more women on air, regardless of whether they are the best qualified for the position.