THE BBC has been accused of discrimination after an advert for a trainee position with the broadcaster’s World Service specified applications would only be considered from candidates who are not white.
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The BBC has been accused of discrimination by offering an internship to non-white applicants only
The 12-month posting, which pays £10.20 an hour, is open only to those “from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority background”.
The internship is billed as offering the successful applicant an “an exceptional and unique opportunity to train as a broadcast journalist”.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has branded the advertisement discriminatory, arguing "those most in need of a leg up" are young white males from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But the taxpayer-funded BBC says the position is simply a “training and development opportunity”, and has been organised by an independent organisation aimed specifically at increasing diversity in creative industries.
The advert says applicants must be from from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority background
It's disappointing because all the figures now indicate that those most in need of a leg up and most struggling in our education system are white boys from deprived backgroundsAndrew Bridgen MP
And the public service broadcaster says the traineeship is in line with equality laws.
Mr Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, told MailOnline: “It's disappointing because all the figures now indicate that those most in need of a leg up and most struggling in our education system are white boys from deprived backgrounds.
“It's positive discrimination – and I thought that discrimination on the grounds of race, sexuality, or gender was illegal.”
The internship has been advertised by agency Creative Access on its website.
The BBC has come under fire in the past for positive discrimination
The position, which is based in London, is advertised as providing all the experience needed for the successful applicant up to “hit the ground running” in a career in journalism.
The candidate will be given on-the-job training on how to see stories through, from idea to the finished product, as well as the chance to assist in various roles within the corporation’s modern, busy newsroom.
Applicants are required to have already obtained a recognised journalism qualification, as well as work experience in newspapers or radio.
A strong command of the English language and a good broadcasting voice are also listed as necessary skills.
The trainee position offers applicants the chance to work on the prestigious World at One show
A BBC spokesman said: “The Scheme is organised by Creative Access, an independent organisation dedicated to increasing diversity in the creative industries, whose other partners include ITV, United Agents, Faber and Faber, and John Murray.
“This is not a job, but simply a training and development opportunity.
“This training scheme is designed as a positive action scheme to address an identified under-representation of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in certain roles; such schemes are as allowed under the Equality Act and we’re proud to be taking part.”
The BBC was at the centre of another discrimination row in August last year after an internship role researching for Panorama was only available to “UK nationals from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority”.
The position was paid for with a £20,000 bursary.
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