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BBC World Service languages boss and diversity champion quits BBC World Service languages boss and diversity champion quits
(35 minutes later)
The BBC has lost one of its strongest champions for women and ethnic minorities with the departure of Liliane Landor as head of languages for the World Service.The BBC has lost one of its strongest champions for women and ethnic minorities with the departure of Liliane Landor as head of languages for the World Service.
Landor’s departure after 26 years with the BBC was described in an email to staff from James Harding, director of BBC News and Current Affairs, as her decision.Landor’s departure after 26 years with the BBC was described in an email to staff from James Harding, director of BBC News and Current Affairs, as her decision.
“Liliane Landor has been a defining figure in shaping the World Service over the course of her 26 years at the BBC,” he said.“Liliane Landor has been a defining figure in shaping the World Service over the course of her 26 years at the BBC,” he said.
“At Liliane’s behest, the language services transformed the BBC’s ability to make sense of the world, bringing its expertise, first-hand knowledge and courageous on-the-ground reporting to all parts of the BBC’s global coverage.”“At Liliane’s behest, the language services transformed the BBC’s ability to make sense of the world, bringing its expertise, first-hand knowledge and courageous on-the-ground reporting to all parts of the BBC’s global coverage.”
Hundreds of BBC staff members are understood to have attended an internal meeting on Wednesday to discuss Landor’sdeparture .Hundreds of BBC staff members are understood to have attended an internal meeting on Wednesday to discuss Landor’sdeparture .
Although the departure was mutually agreed, there are understood to have been differences between her and the senior management of the World Service, which is led by Fran Unsworth, over its future direction. Landor could not be reached for comment.Although the departure was mutually agreed, there are understood to have been differences between her and the senior management of the World Service, which is led by Fran Unsworth, over its future direction. Landor could not be reached for comment.
The daughter of an Arab father and Cuban mother who partly grew up in Lebanon, she was instrumental in launching the BBC’s 100 Women season in 2014. The inaugural season included an interview with Malala Yusufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban, maternal health in Uganda and the rise of female breadwinners in the US.The daughter of an Arab father and Cuban mother who partly grew up in Lebanon, she was instrumental in launching the BBC’s 100 Women season in 2014. The inaugural season included an interview with Malala Yusufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban, maternal health in Uganda and the rise of female breadwinners in the US.
As the controller of the BBC’s 27 language services across radio, TV and online, Landor described the special season as “a pledge, on my part and the part of the editors, to say this is what we are committed to – I do want to hear more women’s voices on air, and read on our websites issues that we don’t generally talk about”. As the controller of the BBC’s 28 language services across radio, TV and online, Landor described the special season as “a pledge, on my part and the part of the editors, to say this is what we are committed to – I do want to hear more women’s voices on air, and read on our websites issues that we don’t generally talk about”.
The World Service was awarded an extra £85m a year by the government last November to invest in BBC services around the world including in Russia, North Korea, the Middle East and Africa.The World Service was awarded an extra £85m a year by the government last November to invest in BBC services around the world including in Russia, North Korea, the Middle East and Africa.
Landor joined the BBC in 1989, first as a presenter on the French service before eventually becoming responsible for all the BBC World Service news and current affairs programmes in English ten years ago. She has also been the head of the World Service’s middle east region.Landor joined the BBC in 1989, first as a presenter on the French service before eventually becoming responsible for all the BBC World Service news and current affairs programmes in English ten years ago. She has also been the head of the World Service’s middle east region.
Her departure comes a month after new research suggested that female experts were still outnumbered by men by three to one on the major news networks, which also have only half as many female reporters and presenters as they do men.Her departure comes a month after new research suggested that female experts were still outnumbered by men by three to one on the major news networks, which also have only half as many female reporters and presenters as they do men.
Although women make up almost half of all BBC jobs, that percentage falls in senior roles.Although women make up almost half of all BBC jobs, that percentage falls in senior roles.
Jonathan Munro, the BBC’s head of newsgathering, said earlier this month that women sometimes lacked confidence in applying for top jobs. “If you walk around the BBC newsroom it’s a really diverse place, but you find some very capable women don’t feel confident enough to pitch for stuff that we’d really like them to apply for.”Jonathan Munro, the BBC’s head of newsgathering, said earlier this month that women sometimes lacked confidence in applying for top jobs. “If you walk around the BBC newsroom it’s a really diverse place, but you find some very capable women don’t feel confident enough to pitch for stuff that we’d really like them to apply for.”
He pointed out however that women now held six of the BBC’s top 15 reporting posts, all of which were occupied by men three years ago.He pointed out however that women now held six of the BBC’s top 15 reporting posts, all of which were occupied by men three years ago.