Meritocracy isn’t working to allow diverse talent to get jobs, argues Benjamin Law
Australia’s meritocracy system isn’t working in terms of allowing multicultural, diverse talent to rise to the top argued Benjamin Law, the creator and screenwriter of SBS’ The Family Law.
Speaking at today’s Mumbrella360, Law said: “In other countries like the UK, Canada and the US which have very similar, diverse make-up to us – and in some measures we’re even more diverse – they all employ really strong mechanisms to enforce or promote or foster diversity. In terms of those strategies in Australia they are almost nil.
“It’s one thing to say we want diversity on screen – that’s almost an uncontroversial thing to talk about. The really difficult conversation is going to be about how do you want to get it. That’s an uncomfortable thing, especially for Australians, to talk about.
Law: The meritocracy system isn’t working, what are we going to do instead?
[quote] “You cannot employ people and you cannot make the program if you are not making money. The only way to make money is to attract advertisers and the only way you’ll attract advertisers is with the quality of programs you put on that attract the audiences.” [unquote]
The quote sounds solid and secure, but it is like a slice of Swiss cheese.
The first sentence is like saying that you can’t swim on dry land.
The second sentence should include the statement that it is not the only, but the easy way, and then drop the word quality, since it hardly applies to anything that is rating at present. Any old schlock will work just fine, so long as it gets ratings, and this is where the real problems begin. The audiences are fragmented and frustrated, and social media is getting less and less credible, and more and more like the hair restorer, nerve tonic, and electric underpants ads of the early print era.