Latest news with #CreativeIndustriesIndependentStandardsAuthority
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Chief Tim Davie Commits to CIISA Standards in Anti-Bullying Push
BBC director-general Tim Davie has said that the broadcaster will refuse to work with anyone not committed to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) standards, indicating a zero-tolerance approach to workplace bullying and harassment. Speaking at the Lowry Theatre in Salford on Wednesday, Davie responded to a question from Nazir Afzal, a board member of the creative industries independent safeguarding agency, about trust and workplace standards. More from Variety Susan Sarandon, Mike Leigh Among 600+ Signatories of Open Letter Demanding That BBC Air Delayed Gaza Medics Documentary How to Watch the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards Online Prince Harry Interview Coverage on Radio 4's 'Today' Featured 'Lapse in Usual High Editorial Standards' by Not Challenging 'Establishment Stitch-Up' Claim, BBC Says 'Let me answer just very quickly on the direct point about CIISA,' Davie said. 'Very, very specifically, we will not contract with people unless they're signed up for CIISA standards and protocols. We will not do that anymore, because we cannot be in a position where we're working with people, where those risks are there, end of.' The Q&A was after a speech where Davie said the U.K. must make a series of bold, urgent choices to reverse the erosion of societal trust, and that the BBC stands ready to play a central role in this renewal. Davie elaborated on a deeper cultural issue regarding the abuse of power in the media industry: 'I think there's something more profound isn't there, which I've touched on in my speech, which is trust in those people who have power and how they use it. I mean, one of my old, cliched lines is the acid test of a human being, is, when they get power, how do they deploy it generously and in whose interest?' The BBC chief acknowledged past failures in the industry, noting: 'Frankly, we have had a situation this is, this is long standing and deep which is people don't believe that the people in power are acting in their interests, and the worst case is that means abuse of power in all that means, and I think there are industries, ours has been one where you are also particularly exposed into that dynamic because of that person being creative, or the so called presenter dynamic… and that has led to deep problems, bad people being able to abuse power.' Following the recent publication of an independent workplace culture review, the BBC is implementing immediate reforms. Davie expressed pride in the BBC's progress while acknowledging ongoing challenges: 'We don't think overall, we have a toxic culture. And I think some of those previous problems, you know, I'd be aghast if we were in some of those zones. But we still have the risks and pockets where, if you've got power, you know, are you deploying it flawlessly, and are you bringing out the best of people across the organization?' The CIISA Standards, published in February this year and chaired by Helena Kennedy, establish minimum standards of workplace behavior across the U.K.'s creative industries, focusing on creating safe and inclusive environments free from harassment and bullying. Davie emphasized that organizational culture is an ongoing project: 'Culture doesn't get fixed in a day, and probably it's a lifelong project. But I think we're making a lot of progress, and with CIISA absolutely critical.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
The Guardian
22-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK creative industries set behaviour standards after Strictly and MasterChef rows
New guidelines will be issued this week for the UK's creative industries after a series of scandals including reports of inappropriate behaviour by Gregg Wallace and Gino d'Acampo, and bullying allegations on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) will set new standards with the aim of stamping out bullying, harassment and discrimination, and address 'power imbalances'. The guidelines call on organisations to create reporting mechanisms and ways to learn from previous scandals, as well as safe and inclusive working environments. Jen Smith, chief executive of the new body, said the standards could be adopted widely in commissioning agreements, contracts and awards criteria. 'Then no one can say, 'I didn't know' or 'It wasn't clear',' she said. The CIISA was created by Dame Heather Rabbatts, who saw the need for an independent body to hold all creative industries to account. Rabbatts had founded Time's Up UK in 2018 in the wake of the #Me Too movement. Smith was previously director of culture and inclusion at the British Film Institute and in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal helped draw up a set of standards to combat harassment in the screen industries. 'People don't currently feel as safe as they should in the creative industries,' Smith said. 'We needed clarity around what it meant to be in a safe working environment.' She added: 'What came to light is that part of the infrastructure of the creative industries was missing. You've got a workforce that don't have HR departments. What people really needed was a safe, confidential place to raise concerns, seek advice, get help. For creative sectors, there was this gap. Where do you go? Who has … independent oversight and who can provide impartial advice?' In research carried out in May 2024 by Bectu, the union for workers in the creative industries, 84% of respondents said the sector needed an independent body to investigate, report and prevent harassment. The fact that the creative industries, especially film and television, mostly comprised freelancers and small companies had exacerbated issues of poor behaviour, Smith said. People feared that speaking out would cost them work, while freelancers who did want to speak up were often unclear about who to report concerns to. In the Film and TV Charity's Looking Glass report 2024, 41% of respondents to a survey said they'd experienced bullying, harassment or discrimination in the previous 12 months. More than half said they didn't report this to anyone – of those who did report, 21% said the situation got worse. CIISA will not have enforcement powers, so it will rely on the creative industries to commit to the standards. However, breaches can be reported to the organisation and it will offer legal advice, arbitration and mediation, as well as support for individuals to access criminal justice or employment tribunals where appropriate. Smith said the CIISA had support from the government and that she had met Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary. Last week, Nandy warned the TV industry that it must address standards of behaviour, following recent allegations against d'Acampo, the celebrity chef. Nandy told ITV News: 'If the industry can't get its own house in order, we are prepared to step in … The time for action is long overdue.' Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion D'Acampo 'categorically denies' allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. A statement from his legal team says: 'This is the first time, six years later, he has been informed of these alleged incidents, and he does not accept them.' Wallace's lawyers have said the suggestion that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature was entirely false. The CIISA will initially focus on the screen, stage and music sectors, but aims to cover others such as gaming, publishing and fashion in the future. A cross-sector approach is vital in spotting patterns of behaviour, Smith said. Allegations made about Wallace, the BBC MasterChef presenter, suggested that even where allegations were reported to one individual or company, it was unclear if information was shared, or who had responsibility to act. There needs to be 'one entity, where people can report confidentially and safely, and we can build up [a] picture of concerning behaviour and deal with it appropriately,' Smith said. 'You shouldn't be having historical issues that have gone on for so long.' The CIISA hopes the creative industries can learn from past failures. 'We're seeing repeated stories in the press,' Smith said. 'When things go wrong, how do we prevent that from happening again?'
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Government May Force Broadcasters To Regularly Fund New Anti-Bullying Reporting Body
EXCLUSIVE: The UK government is considering enshrining into law a requirement for UK broadcasters to regularly fund anti-bullying reporting body CIISA, which is yet to launch properly several years after it was first floated. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is understood to view CIISA, which stands for the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, as crucial to helping rid the TV and film industries of the bullying and harassment issues that have plagued the sector for decades. The concept of an anonymous whistleblowing service that freelancers could go to without fear of repercussion has been hailed by all and sundry but securing long-term funding commitments in the millions of pounds has proved a tough ask. More from Deadline UK Culture Secretary "Prepared To Take Further Action" If TV Industry Fails To Get Grip On Bad Behavior Following Gregg Wallace Allegations Gregg Wallace Apologizes After UK Government Calls TV Presenter's Defense Of His Actions "Inappropriate & Misogynistic" - Update UK Film & TV Bullying Reporting Body To Create Industry-Wide Standards Following High-Profile Incidents Nandy has spoken publicly of her desire to get CIISA up and running and said several weeks back that she takes a 'dim view' of big TV industry players who are not financially backing CIISA, as she singled out MasterChef producer Banijay for criticism in the wake of the Gregg Wallace allegations. Privately, we understand that one option she has mooted is laying down a statute that would require the UK broadcasters to fund CIISA on a regular basis. CIISA's recent prospectus indicated that running costs would be around £1.5M ($1.9M) in its first year, rising to just more than £2M the following one to fund its small team and operations. The body has floated a funding model based on organizations paying an ongoing yearly contribution of a maximum 0.1% of their annual turnover. Speaking to a parliamentary committee last week, CIISA boss Jen Smith, who used to work for the BFI, said CIISA is 'looking at a range of alternative models' and keeping all options on the table including statutory. Sources stressed that the new Culture Sec's idea is just one of a number being considered and is not set in stone. All broadcasters along with Sky, some big streamers and production companies have already given financial backing to CIISA but Nandy's plan if enacted would enshrine this into law and help secure CIISA's long-term future. 'The Culture Secretary recently met with CIISA to discuss how government and industry can work together to improve workplace standards and behaviour in the creative industries,' said a CMS spokeswoman. 'CIISA has an essential role to play in the industry, which is why we are looking at a range of measures to cement their authority and ensure that they have proper buy-in and support from across the sector.' CIISA has secured public backing from some of the UK's biggest stars including Keira Knightley, Emerald Fennell and Gemma Chan, who were three of a number who signed an open letter last year urging more funding. CIISA emerged off the back of the Time's Up UK movement several years back in the wake of the allegations against Doctor Who star Noel Clarke, which he denies. Since then there have been a number of high-profile incidences of bad behavior in the industry including allegations against Huw Edwards, Russell Brand and Wallace (Brand and Wallace both deny allegations, with the former saying all relationships were consensual and the latter's lawyers denying he engaged in behavior of a 'sexually harassing nature.'). Speaking to Deadline last year, CIISA boss Smith told us the body will act as a 'circuit breaker' for bullying and harassment. 'The blueprint we are building could help the creative industries internationally,' she claimed. That blueprint could be handed quite the boon if Nandy pushes on with her plan. Best of Deadline 'Ginny & Georgia' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 'The Sandman' Season 2: Everything We Know So Far
