BBC newsreader and DIVA columnist Jane Hill hosted the star-studded event.
The winners of the inaugural Viacom Diversity In Media Awards have been revealed. Held at London’s Hilton Waldorf Hotel and hosted by BBC roadcaster Jane Hill, DiMA saw everyone from Myleene Klass and Mollie King to Susanna Reid and Beverley Knight come together to celebrate diversity champions and role models working in British media.
The Diversity in Media Awards are proud to be sponsored by Viacom International Media Networks #dimawards17 https://t.co/TqGOmxfqAD @Viacom pic.twitter.com/fV3yHnuk1E
— Diversity in Media (@DiMAwards) 25 August 2017
Notable wins include the DIVA magazine sponsored Blogger/Podcaster of the Year Award, which went to Gemma Turner, and Badass Womens Hour, who won the OutNewGlobal’s Radio Programme of the Year Award for their radio show and podcast.
Honours were also handed out to singer Lily Allen, who was named Hero of the Year following her support for the victims and those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster. Labour MP Diane Abbott, who this year celebrates thirty years since being elected the UK’s first black woman MP, won the Icon of the Year award.
The full list of this evening’s winners is as follows:
Broadcaster of the Year – BBC
Production Company of the Year – BETTY
Media Organisation of the Year – SIMON JONES PR
Journalist of the Year – MATTHEW CAIN
Blogger/Podcaster of the Year – GEMMA TURNER
TV Programme of the Year – GOGGLEBOX
Marketing Campaign of the Year – JABONG
Rising Star of the Year – VICTORIA BROOM
Hero of the Year – LILY ALLEN
Presenter of the Year – REGGIE YATES
Radio Station / Programme of the Year – BADASS WOMENS HOUR
Diversity Champion of the Year – SARA GEATER
Actor of the Year – RUSSELL TOVEY
Media Moment of the Year – INDIA WILLOUGHBY
Icon of the Year – DIANE ABBOTT
Lifetime Achievement – LIZ MACKEAN
Munroe Bergdorf also made her first red carpet appearance since L’Oreal made the controversial decision to drop her from their campaign. The transgender model, DJ and activist was dropped from L’Oreal’s #YoursTruly diversity campaign after she posted a Facebook status about racism and white privilege. She has since been taken on as the new face of the Illamasqua.
Co-founded by DIVA magazine and OutNews Global publisher Linda Riley and Telegraph Media’s Colin Campbell-Austin, DiMA is more than just a “glitz and glamour award ceremony”:
“The media is a powerful everyday tool to inform, entertain, inspire, report, investigate and campaign. It surrounds us – from billboards to television programmes, news stands to radio, and every corner online. What we read and hear shapes our worldview, influences our opinions, and forms part of our identities,” reads the DiMA homepage.
“Yet too many voices seem to be missing from these conversations. Older women are elbowed off our television screens in favour of younger faces. Working class voices are rarely heard, neither are the views of people without academic qualifications.
“Those who do stick their heads above the parapet are often bullied and abused for their differences, instead of celebrated for their achievements. And while some progress is being made, representations of ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTs are often tokenistic and unrepresentative.
“The Diversity In Media Awards recognise and celebrate the voices that accurately reflect the society we live in. To encourage and inspire people to pursue a career in the media by shining a light on role models and best practice. To be proud of our voices, and to speak up, for ourselves, our communities and for others.”
When asked about the event, Linda Riley, said:
“There is still much to do to ensure that every strand of British media accurately reflects the diversity of society but these awards are a great way to celebrate those who are already doing it. It has been wonderful to celebrate such inspirational role models.”
Host Jane Hill commented:
“It has been a fantastic night that has rightly celebrated people and organisations across the media who are making a real difference in promoting the values of diversity. So many brilliant people have won awards and there were some very special moments.”
