BBC news presenter takes Beijing-based China job

Shuimo   Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:16 pm GMT
Isn't this the indication of the soft power of China?

Hmmm, BTW, Shuimo is ready to evaluate her job in China!
Whether she has a good voice and could properly handle Chinese names for places and people!


-------------------------
A BBC News presenter claims that she has been forced to move to Beijing to escape the corporation’s ingrained “culture of ageism”.

Discarded BBC stars such as Moira Stuart could follow the example of Susan Osman, 51, a BBC News Channel presenter, who announced that she was to take over a leading programme in China.

Osman has worked in broadcasting for 28 years, presenting bulletins on BBC World and reporting for ITN News. She fronted the Bristol-based Points West on BBC One for 14 years.

But she claimed that her age had become an insurmountable barrier in Britain. She has accepted a job hosting a prime-time breakfast show on China Radio International and is moving to Beijing.

Ms Osman said: “There seems to be a culture of ageism in broadcasting in this country, and it particularly affects women.”

The freelance presenter had been for a series of auditions for BBC jobs and been told she was “marvellous”. But she was consistently overlooked, without explanation.

While British women face ageism in broadcasting when they reached their 40s, their longevity is an asset in Asia. “In China they revere experience,” she said. “The older you are the better. I got the impression that my future boss actually wanted me to be older when I finally told him my age during the interview.”

Ms Osman said: “When I was working at BBC Bristol as a presenter, I was actually asked by one of the managers there if I was menopausal. I think this is indicative of the attitude towards women in broadcasting as they get older.”

She added: “I’ve had so many female colleagues who have dropped out in their early forties, which is a shame because an older woman can bring wisdom and empathy. There don’t seem to be many places for older women in broadcasting in this country.”

After the ageism row when Ms Stuart, 60, was axed from reading the news on Sunday mornings, the BBC is now seeking to hire anchors over the age of 50. However it is unlikely that these new presenters would front the high-profile 6pm or 10pm bulletins.

A BBC spokesman said: “Broadcasting, especially presenting, is an extremely competitive industry and the nature of it is such that many broadcasters are freelance artists on contracts of specific durations,” he said. “Ageism has nothing to do with it.”

The BBC was embroiled in another ageism row when Arlene Phillips, 66, was replaced as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing by Alesha Dixon, 31, a decision criticised by Harriet Harman, Equalities Minister.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article6941375.ece
tombo   Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:21 pm GMT
The BBC is the biggest load of left-wing PC propaganda in the world. I can't believe there is this opinion floating around that the BBC is impartial. It's utter nonsense. I've never seen worse propaganda, even on the likes of FOX news.
Wintereis   Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:40 am GMT
Shuimo   Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:22 am GMT
Wintereis   Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:08 pm GMT
I feel as most of the world feels about China. I have nothing against the Chinese people; I have only pity and sorrow for them. I find the ancient culture of China fascinating (though I can't say I am too fond of its version of opera). You will find that I have no problem with much of Marxist doctrine either. The United States is a semi-socialist country, and I admire and envy the even more socialist Western European nations. What I have a problem with is a government that uses those same philosophies to oppress and brutalize its people, and I find your blind, ill-founded nationalistic fervor also quite disturbing. In Marxist theory there is a word, hegemony. This describes a system in which people are trapped and blind to a slavish poverty to created by industry. Well, you seem to be a victim of a similar hegemony, only this type of hegemony is localized in the Chinese Government rather than monetary interests.
marco polo   Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:13 pm GMT
<<What I have a problem with is a government that uses those same philosophies to oppress and brutalize its people, and I find your blind, ill-founded nationalistic fervor also quite disturbing. In Marxist theory there is a word, hegemony. This describes a system in which people are trapped and blind to a slavish poverty to created by industry. Well, you seem to be a victim of a similar hegemony, only this type of hegemony is localized in the Chinese Government rather than monetary interests. >>


Always remember:

Evildoing should not only be permitted but even should be acknowledged as the most necessary and most intelligent solution for the situation of every person [or nation/government]. Nothing is immoral. Everything is permitted, even anthropophagy, even if simply for the beauty of it.

Hence, the Chinese government is doing everything right. It is acting sensibly and intelligently.


Disclaimer: anyone who disagrees is a shithead and should be killed.
Joyce   Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:48 am GMT
It is not surprising that it happens. Same story may happen to news anchors in CCTV (China Central Television which is the state-owned television station in China mainly for the propagation purpose) when they are getting old. They may be hired by a Chinese-speaking TV channel in north America or Europe. Who knows?

I've seen news anchor from Australia working for CCTV-9 , also known as CCTV international which is a 24-hour English-language channel in China . His name is Edwin Maher. Before he moved to Beijing, he has been working in Australian Broadcasting Corporation for more than twenty years. He did a good job in CCTV! He has many fans in China, some of who even write love letters to him! And he has recently received an award from Chinese government for his excellent performance in news broadcasting.

Come to China, there are a lot of opportunities here!
Shuimo   Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:10 pm GMT
Wintereis Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:08 pm GMT
I feel as most of the world feels about China. I have nothing against the Chinese people; I have only pity and sorrow for them. I find the ancient culture of China fascinating (though I can't say I am too fond of its version of opera). You will find that I have no problem with much of Marxist doctrine either. The United States is a semi-socialist country, and I admire and envy the even more socialist Western European nations. What I have a problem with is a government that uses those same philosophies to oppress and brutalize its people, and I find your blind, ill-founded nationalistic fervor also quite disturbing. In Marxist theory there is a word, hegemony. This describes a system in which people are trapped and blind to a slavish poverty to created by industry. Well, you seem to be a victim of a similar hegemony, only this type of hegemony is localized in the Chinese Government rather than monetary interests.
----------------------------

WOw, how does the world feel about China?

Yr distinction btw Chinese people and Chinese gov is cheap and flimsy!
Without Chinese people's support, there wud be no Chinese gov!

In the oposite, the US government is unbearaby evil, a downright ractationary gov blindly chosen by imbecile bad Americans!


You thought the Western opinion of China represents the whole of the world's opinion?

What a big lie that is!^_^

Do you have any sound sense to judge what is sound,unblind nationalistis feelings?

You are every bit a through ignorant brain-washed American like any Amrican Shuimo meets online!
Guest 2   Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:32 pm GMT
<In the oposite, the US government is unbearaby evil, a downright ractationary gov blindly chosen by imbecile bad Americans!
You thought the Western opinion of China represents the whole of the world's opinion?
You are every bit a through ignorant brain-washed American like any Amrican Shuimo meets online! >

You probably won't realise this, Shuimo; but you have committed the very error you accuse Wintereis of committing.