There was a fuss last year when Althea Efunshile, former deputy chief exec of Arts Council England, was an Ofcom-nominated candidate for a seat on the Channel 4 board who found herself vetoed by the Department of Culture, Media and Odd Fiat. That meant only four women – out of 13 members – around the C4 table, no black faces in sight.
Well, perhaps justice is done now as Ofcom puts Efunshile in a new batch of nominations that the DCMS graciously accepts, old defences about “tokenism” and the rest duly flattened. But there is a very loose end flapping around here: the tattered illusion that appointments to very sensitive media operations are hands-off, saintly and pure.
Traditionally, the DCMS appoints Ofcom’s leadership and Ofcom appoints C4’s board. But see here. Efunshile wouldn’t have tried a second time unless she knew she’d get the job, and Ofcom, similarly, wouldn’t have backed her candidacy. In other words, nodding and winking, the DCMS was very hands-on here.
