BBC Bristol TV broadcaster Susan Osman 'escaping culture of ageism'
Former BBC Points West presenter Susan Osman is moving from Bristol to China to escape a "culture of ageism" in broadcasting in this country that she says has made it difficult for her to get full-time work.
Ms Osman has worked in broadcasting for 28 years and currently freelances as a presenter on the BBC News Channel and at BBC World. Before that she was a presenter on BBC1 Points West for 14 years, and hosted a show at BBC Radio Bristol for eight years.
However, she believes her age – she is now 51 – is hindering her attempts to get suitable work as a presenter in this country, citing one incident when she claims that a BBC manager asked her if she was menopausal.
Ms Osman has now accepted an offer to host the prime-time breakfast show on China Radio International (CRI 91.5FM) on a one-year contract, and is moving to Beijing.
The BBC last night denied it was guilty of ageism in choosing its presenters.
But Ms Osman said: "There seems to be a culture of ageism in broadcasting in this country, and it particularly affects women.
"In recent months I've gone for five auditions and interviews for radio and television presenting jobs at the BBC and in the independent sector. Each time I got told how marvellous I was and that they'd call me back, and in some cases we even discussed schedules.
"Mysteriously, each time I never heard anything, which was not only rude but has left me wondering if it's because of my age."
Ms Osman – who has also worked as a newscaster and reporter at ITN News and Thames Television, as well as presenting on HTV West and on the European Business Today programme on BSkyB – said that by contrast her age had been an advantage when she applied for a job with the new English language station China Radio International.
She said: "In China they revere experience. 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.
"I'd been very reluctant to say how old I was because of my experiences over here.
"Far from being put off, he was positively delighted and also wants me to do training for the younger journalists."
Ms Osman's concerns about ageism follow recent controversy over the removal of 66-year-old Arlene Philips as a judge from the BBC television show Strictly Come Dancing, and six-figure payout to Selina Scott by Channel Five in settlement of an age discrimination claim.
Ms Osman was encouraged to look for work in China by her son Matthew, 20, an Oxford University student who spent time there last year.
Ms Osman said she believed women in broadcasting faced ageism when they reached their 40s.
She 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.
"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."
While she is living in Beijing for a year, the Rainbow's End Foundation charity set up by Ms Osman – who is an ordained interfaith minister – will continue to be run as usual.
"Ironically, when I started working in television my biggest concern was being taken seriously as I was always told I was too glamorous and too young looking. What a lot of people don't realise is that it's even harder for women in broadcasting to be taken seriously as they get older," she added.
Responding to Ms Osman's claims, 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. Ageism has nothing to do with it."
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by Londoner, in the west
Thursday, December 03 2009, 12:17AM
“There's definite ageism in TV. Susan Osman has made a good move. Just hope the young presenters - yes, they usually need several to replace an older one - aren't Bristolian. Guess they could use subtitles, but you definitely need to lose the accent. You are not all farmers....”
by richard, bristol
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 7:46PM
“No doubt she was happy to use her age and looks when it suited her.”
by Emma, Avonmouth
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 3:28PM
“Well not being from round these parts- i'm learning fast!!!
Thanks Ian :-)”
by Ian, Hanham
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 1:34PM
“Ems, Avonmouth - the fact that you have a BS postcode does not indicate live in Bristol but the fact that you pay council tax to Bristol City Council does.
Hanham is BS15 but is in South Glos not Bristol; Weston super Mare is BS23 and that's not in Bristol either”
by Ems, Avonmouth
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 1:12PM
“James, i always thought Avonmouth was in Bristol! we have a BS postcode and as you point out do pay council tax to Bristol City Council.
VARRRRRY STRAAAANGE!!!! ;-)”
by James, South West
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 11:42AM
“I don't know about pronouncing Avonmouth but all the local news media describe it as being near Bristol. Presumably all the residents of Avonmouth must be paying their council tax to the Bristol City Council under false pretences then.
The morning presenters on Radio Bristol have little idea of local geography or local history. Someone mentioned seeing Cary Grant in Clifton in the 1960s and the Irish presenter, Steve, couldn't understand why because he thought CG had left Bristol for America as a very young child.
The man who does the phone-in at 9 didn't know what the film star was doing in Clifton in the 60s either. Obviously most of the listeners know far more about Bristol and its characters than the presenters do because within minutes the station had numerous calls pointing out that CG regularly visited his mother who lived in Bristol in those days.
Even worse is the woman who does the traffic reports in the morning on Radio Bristol. She once said she is local but you would never know it. Her knowledge of Bristol and its area is almost non-existent judging by some of the nonsense about locations and traffic flows she often comes out with.
Another one who started on Radio Bristol is Bristol City supporter, the BBC Tv 'Motormouth' commentator, Jonathan Pearce.”
by Pete, Brislington
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 11:07AM
“Quite a few TV presenters have started their careers in Bristol. Michael Buerk, Kate Adie, Steve Scott and Jan Leeming just to name a few. Now they've gone on, it's understandable that new, younger talent is brought in. It's unfortunate for us that there's no-one local that knows the area and worse, can pronounce local place names! "Avonmuth" is the most recent name change I've heard. We won't get Bruce Hockin back I'm sure?
As for Ms Osman, why not follow Michael Buerk's example and get a few quid in doing daytime credit adverts?”
by Dave, Bristol
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:12AM
“This is a sad loss for broadcasting - NOT!
Bye Sue.”
by Crumbley, England.
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:02AM
“Susan Osman is quite correct in identifying that ageism is widespread.
It is widespread throughout Europe.
Ageism supposed to be legally incorrect, but recruiters circumvent the rules by devious means.
I have been asked to send my photograph to a company who were interested in my skills; I did but heard nothing more.
I have been asked to fax a picture of my passport to support my application for an IT job in England. I am native English, so I can only assume that they knew how to find your birth date encoded in the passport number. It¿s easy to do. Again no further contact.
I had one interview with CocaCola in Brusssels where the interviewer kept stressing that he liked to have a young team. Although my skills were absolutely ideal I didn¿t get the job.
Six months later the job came up again so I applied again. This time I asked the agency if the client was ageist. He asked the client. According to the agency CocaCola said that they were not and that they would like to interview me.
I drove 800 miles to attend the interview. The interview was a mockery. The same person interviewed me, he talked about the weather, but this time he did not go through the job requirements. He again said that he was keeping a young team.
The next day I asked the agency for feedback, but the agency declined to even give CocaCola a telephone call. I heard nothing more. Obviously the second interview was an attempt to cover up for institutional ageism. It was a set up.
The rudeness of the non reply that Susan Osman experienced is again widespread.
She has my sympathy and my full backing for a very brave move.
I can assure her the treatment she has been experiencing is not because she is a women. I am a man and I get exactly the same treatment.
I must admit that I have never been asked about the menopause.
Something is very wrong with a society which wastes so much talent and training on the false assumption that one is a gibbering idiot at 50.”
by The Original Richard, Bristol
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 8:57AM
“Interesting to learn that Susan started her career in Washington DC so she has good international skills. From her website:
"Susan is patron of more than twenty charities in the West Country and was voted Personality of the Year by the Variety Club Great Britain. She is also a director in the film company Nick O'Time Films. It has a slate of feature films in co-production and is the co-writer of Rich wins a Condo, In Eastgodmen Bay, and Barcelona Baby".
To be fair with Susan the complete opposite of say Caroline Flack from I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here.
One is a conservative media professional and the other is more like a grudate recruitment consultant.
It sounds like China will be an excellent move, just be ready for the pollution.”