Since our last survey, we find more columnists, podcasters and executives are from privileged backgrounds. That’s too narrow a segment of society
The Sutton Trust has researched the educational backgrounds of Britain’s most influential people – and in one sector in particular, that should ring alarm bells. It seems clear that the British media has a social mobility problem. And despite some recent efforts, it’s not a problem that is going away anytime soon.
A high proportion of leading figures in the British media are from private school backgrounds. While only 7% of people attend private school nationwide, our report found half of newspaper columnists are privately educated, along with 47% of political commentators, 45% of leading podcasters and 38% of BBC executives.
Carl Cullinane is director of research and policy, the Sutton Trust
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