The BBC faced growing anger after Jonathan Ross was cleared to return to his £6 million-a-year job
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As we know, Jeremy Paxman is taken very seriously by the nation.
He moans about ill-fitting underpants and M&S quakes; he declares London a filthy city and the capital blushes with shame. Now he, who holds one of the most prestigious and highly paid jobs on television, grumbles that TV today discriminates against white, middleclass men, however able and creative.
Utter rubbish, of course, and infuriating for women, the working class and the non-white. Mariella Frostrup and Channel 4 anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, among others, have rightly rebuked our iconic political inquisitor.
I hadn't, thus far. Be smart, I told myself, keep out of this furore. I have learned the hard way that you do not ever take on the big beasts of broadcasting, almost all white, middle-class, oxbridge and male.
If you dare to question their views, you are blackballed, kept off screen and station for the longest time.
Good sense, alas, did not prevail. By today I am spitting blood, because so many out there believe Paxman is bravely exposing ball-breaking feminists and manipulative ethnics who have taken over media establishments and dislodged the old guard, privileged men born to rule the airwaves.
Paxman named five female executives, to prove his point. Five? out of how many? only one out of 17 BBC people making editorial decisions is a woman, according to Katherine rake, director of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for female equality.
Not one TV or radio controller is black or Asian. Broadcasters from these backgrounds do not become presenters on Newsnight or the Today Programme and although some have been allowed to appear on The daily Politics and Breakfast News, their futures depend on their powerful, white, male, middle-class masters.
All evidence indicates that in broadcasting, the old caste system remains intact and that inherited race, gender and class advantage determines prospects and positions.
So why is Paxman having this tantrum? Because his sort can't stand the smallest of shifts, yet know the institutions have to change. That sense of the inevitable makes them nervy.
Pity but do not indulge them. our time will come, even if the Great Paxo doesn't will it. only then will broadcasting become a true and authentic reflection of the nation.
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Since being at university and probably even before that I have been an admirer of Jeremy Paxman. I admire his sharp mind and his ability to articulate himself and ask clear and concise questions. However, I accept that he is rather arrogant, and at times he is indeed snappy and harsh. However, having read his book 'friends in high places, who runs Britain?' I was able to get an idea into what makes him tick, and I am sure that he is passionate in stating that "TV today discriminates against white, middle-class men, however able and creative" the question, is deluded? Given the serious situation that we face with crime in the ethnic minority in Britain today, a learned individual such as Mr. Paxman could not be suggesting that he is resentful of the talented black and Asian people who are entering the media could he? The difficulty which we face is that white middle class men who have for generations had an 'open door' policy into these posts are realising that despite their colour, they have to fight for their position. For many, coming to this realisation is very difficult. And, they feel as if they are being victimised. Let me just say that black and Asains have always had to fight for their positions, and some of them are far more qualified and able then their white counterparts, but this has never been an issue. It only becomes an issue when someone who is not 'of colour' has a similar experience. Try and walk in their shoes for a day!
- Nigel-Paul Brissett, London
Yasmin - you have really missed the point, the truth is that young, white middle class men are being actively discriminated against by entrenched elites, particularly at entry level. As we know from history, discrimination of any type promotes a reaction. Denying injustice does not make the problem go away.
- Joe, London
Paxo is tolerable as long as your basically on his side. He is basically very arrogant and aloof and strikes me as the left wing(ish) version of Bill O'Reilly on Fox News.
Remember when he started that interview with George Galloway when he had ripped a safe labour seat from Oona King? "Are you proud of having gotten rid of one of the few black women in Parliament"? Galloway said it was stupid biased question and when Paxo kept asking walked off...with some dignity and humour I thought...and Galloway is a long way from my fave person either...
- Jason Stone, Stratford, Newham
