The United Kingdom government, for the third time, denied the appointment of a woman of color to Channel 4’s board, sparking concerns about the British ministers’ interference in media appointments.
TV regulator Ofcom is responsible for recruiting Channel 4 board members, but the final approval comes from Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, for preferred candidates. Rozina Breen, the former head of North at the BBC, was nominated by Ofcom, but her nomination was rejected by ministers without any explanation.
According to Deadline, the veto came to light after Channel 4 chairman Ian Cheshire criticized the diversity of the five new government-approved board members on Monday. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) maintained its commitment to “advancing equality” in public appointments.
Breen, now CEO and editor-in-chief of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, supported the six-month recruitment process run by Ofcom but expressed her concern regarding the approach taken by the ministers.
Speaking to Deadline, she said, “There were clear criteria and a process for application. If one is put forward by Ofcom as one of the recommended candidates and then seemingly rejected by DCMS, that feels opaque and also problematic. Who is making the appointment?”
“Representation is essential and the all too live reality is that women of color especially face multiple barriers. We need to jump higher, run faster, work harder, fit in. More diverse senior decision-makers are essential if broadcasting is to become a genuinely inclusive industry,” she added.
This is not the first time the British government intervened in the appointments of Channel 4 non-executive directors. In 2021, two women of color—former Arts Council England boss Althea Efunshile and film producer Uzma Hasan—were denied reappointment for a second term.
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