Table 21: BBOSSing it at the Wales Media Awards

On the evening of Friday 15th November nine incredible individuals sat at a table tucked away in the farthest corner of the Wales Media Awards. And yet, Table 21 – The BBOSS* Table – offered something different… Not just in who we were, but in our joy, warmth, and a shared determination to take up space and celebrate.

Creating our table at the Wales Media Awards wasn’t for a typical corporate networking opportunity or a night to just sit back and find out who are the industry’s top players. It was to create a space – one table, nine seats – for Black and Brown and other underrepresented voices in media and journalism. It’s a sector in desperate need of what we bring. I dubbed it, in the spirit of absolute audacity, the table of Black, Brown and other Outstanding Social Strivers. Bold? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.

But before we get too carried away with Table 21, I must give credit where it’s due. Journalism, at its best, is a noble profession. It’s about holding truth to power, uncovering issues of public interest, and, let’s be honest, occasionally surviving on coffee and adrenaline to hit a deadline. Welsh journalists, many of them my former colleagues from my 15 years at the BBC, are some of the finest I’ve worked with. They’re dogged, curious, and their commitment to their craft is undeniable. .

The Wales Media Awards was an impressive evening. It was a room full of talent all celebrating the craft of journalism. Congratulations to the Journalists’ Charity for staging such a well-organised event, especially in a time when the role of journalism has never been more critical. As a judge in some categories this year, I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the dedication and skill it takes to tell stories that matter.

But the challenge is that those stories don’t always reflect the full spectrum of our society. That’s not a criticism of the individuals doing the work. It’s an observation about the industry as a whole, which still struggles to represent the diversity of voices and experiences that make up modern Wales. That’s not just my opinion; it’s glaringly obvious when you look around a room from the view of Table 21.

There was something else that was a bit conspicuous that night. There were no winners from an ethnic minority background. While that absence doesn’t detract from the talent or commitment of my former colleagues in the room, it does highlight a systemic issue in the industry. The stories being told, the voices being heard and the people being celebrated still don’t reflect the full richness of our society…

Which is why Table 21 mattered.

As someone who has dedicated a substantial part of my career and personal time to the creative industries in Wales, and spent years navigating the BBC, I’ve seen firsthand the missed opportunities when our stories are left untold or are improperly told. I’m now working firmly in the world of organisational culture, inclusion and equity – in multiple industries – and I’m reminded daily of the gaps that still exist.

The sentiments shared about our table throughout the night reinforced just how valuable it was to have us there. From being seen and acknowledged, to the opportunity to network and connect, being present and visible can, and does, have an impact.

So this table was a statement.

At our table sat some truly talented individuals in journalism and the creative industries. Here sat eight guests who gave me the pleasure of their time and company that evening: David Davis, founder and creative director of 5 Acts Productions, whose work pushes the boundaries of storytelling; Adeola Dewis, a factual presenter and artist whose academic and professional credentials speak for themselves; Miriam Barker, Tyler Edwards and Michela Riva, who are doing exceptional work at the BBC; Rosie Harris, CEO and founder of Style of the City magazine; Mo Janneh, a presenter, producer, and creative force of nature and Mariyah Zaman, of Now In A Minute Media and repping for Inclusive Journalism Cymru. Every person at the table represented the excellence and ambition that exists in communities often left out of these conversations.

Too often attempts at representation reek of tokenism rather than true attempts to reflect the world as it is, with all its complexity and nuance. It’s about creating a space for voices that have been left unheard, and in doing so, enriching the stories we tell.

This isn’t about identity politics or a non-impartial clarion call, as some might speculate. It’s about asking an honest question. Whose voices are missing? And it’s about acknowledging the professional value of bringing those voices into the fold. The simple fact is that journalism’s role is to reflect society and hold power accountable. If it can’t reflect the diversity of the society it serves, it’s falling short of its purpose.

I didn’t create the BBOSS Table as a one-off gesture. It’s part of a larger commitment, my life’s commitment in fact, to celebrating and amplifying the contributions of Black, Brown and working-class professionals in spaces where they’ve been underrepresented for far too long.

The future of Welsh media, like media everywhere, depends on its ability to adapt. Audiences are consuming news differently, on platforms where they believe they can find authenticity, connection and stories that resonate with their lived experiences. If the industry doesn’t embrace diversity in its newsrooms, it risks irrelevance. But from where I was sitting, though at the very back, I felt confident that change is possible and that the talent and ambition to drive it already exists.

The BBOSS Table is more than just an attempt to place diverse faces at a prestigious event. It’s a rallying cry for an industry that has, for far too long, played catch-up with the reality of its audience. When people of colour in Wales engage with the news, how often do they see people who look like them? Is the analysis or treatment resonant and reflective of their experience, concerns or questions? Not often enough, and the reasons for that are complex and deeply embedded in the industry. But sometimes, breaking down barriers begins with something as simple (and symbolic) as a reserved seat.

Here’s to my colleagues who continue to push boundaries and elevate journalism. And here’s to the BBOSS Table, a joyful, deliberate disruption in a room that needed to see, and feel, what representation really means.

*NOTE: Black, Brown, and other Outstanding Social Strivers (BBOSS) is a celebration of talent, resilience, and ambition for anyone striving to overcome systemic barriers. 

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Photo credit Miguela Gonzalez.