Broadcasters will stop using the acronym BAME to refer to black, asian or minority ethnic people over criticism that it lacks nuance.
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and its parent company ViacomCBS UK that said they would no longer use the term in editorial news content and corporate communications. ITN, the producer of news programmes for Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV also said that it would stop using the term.
The move is a response to a report by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity that said the acronym should never be used verbally and generally recommended against its use in writing.
The acronym, which is not used widely outside the UK, is rooted in the 1970s when communities united to fight discrimination and, according to the report, has become “the preferred dominant term” to describe non-white groups, especially since 2020. According to the report, the term can be used in reported speech but should always be written out in full to avoid “homogenising of all ‘non-white’ ethnic groups”.
The authors said: “We are very happy that British broadcasters are taking the issue of racial language seriously and were happy to undertake this piece of work. We believe that while there can still be utility in the use of collective terms, the priority should always be to ensure clear and simple communication that is trusted by audiences.
Advertisement
“We hope that our report will help broadcasters to achieve this, and as language develops, they regularly revisit this and related issues.”
Miranda Wayland, head of creative and workforce diversity and inclusion at BBC, said: “Ensuring that the rich and complex lived experiences of individual ethnic groups are accurately reflected and truthfully portrayed on air and properly recognised in our workplace speaks to our ongoing commitment and investment in greater inclusion.”
Ade Rawcliffe, group director of diversity and inclusion at ITV, said: “Language plays an important role in building trust and confidence in organisations. We will use the findings to build on our internal race fluency training.���
Last year a task force set up by UK Music, which represents the commercial interests of the sector, said the “outdated and offensive” term should be “consigned to the dustbin of history”.
