Review of article: ‘White, male’ narrators on nature shows may discourage ‘minority’ viewers from watching TV

By Ron Bloom Last updated Jan 15, 2023

This is a review of the article “‘White, male’ narrators on nature shows may discourage ‘minority’ viewers from watching TV” which was published by Fox News on January 10, 2023. Maybe you agree with that statement. Maybe you don’t agree with that statement. I just want to speak my mind.

When you visit the website RedStag casino login, do you think about the skin color of the owners of the website, the skin color of the software developers, the skin color of the graphic designers, or the skin color of the host of other people who work behind the scene to give you a “fun time” at the website RedStag casino?

For most people, the only thing they care about is if the games are fun, and did they “win”. And yes, in a lot of online games, there is some level of narration, but most people don’t pay attention to it, because they are too focused on the game (having fun).

So why are nature videos being viewed any differently?

The British EPA funded research to show that non-white children will not watch nature shows that do not have non-white narrators.

Here are some of the most notable quotes from the article “White, male narrators on nature shows may discourage ‘minority’ viewers from watching TV“:

“The tendency for environmental documentaries to be voiced by white, male voices was given as an example of how the environment and the sector can feel inaccessible to people from ethnic minorities, “The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) claimed in a Feb. 2022 study.”
“Racially white, financially middle class” people dominate the environment sector.
White was defined as: “English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British, Irish, Gypsy or Irish Traveller, Roma, or any other White background” qualifies as white, according to the IES.
Stereotypes about Britain’s “white and middle class” countryside have hurt Asian tourism in the country, per The Telegraph.
“Current management has inherited a diverse workforce but are unfortunately not treating them equally,” one respondent wrote. “Grievances have been initiated. Management is old, male, and white.”
Another survey respondent recounted that their five-year-old nephew asked “why am I the only brown person here?” when he visited London.

Interesting quotes from the comment section of this same article

When I watched nature shows as a child I didn’t care about the color or race of the host or narrator. I was focused on the animals or the scenery. (Note: That was my experience as a child, or more likely, “This narrator is so boring, just show me the animals.”)
I don’t remember ever thinking about the race of a narrator at all. After all, you don’t see them, typically, you just hear them.
Funny, I’ve never cared about the ethnicity, or accent, or gender of a narrator if I can clearly understand them and they have a smooth delivery.
In a parallel Survey, researchers discovered that an overwhelming majority of nature shows in China are narrated by Asians.
I’m female and it never occurred to me to be offended by a male narrator. Gosh, I seem to have missed the “I’m a victim” boat.

Who is the best Nature Video Narrator of all time?

Answer: “Mrs. Doubtfire” / Robin Williams (nothing else can even come close)

If a nature show meets the standards of “Mrs. Doubtfire”, then children will most likely watch the show (and probably learn something as well).

This is an example of what “Nature documentaries” were like when I was a child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc2Qu2rNhtw

This is an example of what a good Nature Show documentary is like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI-jhFDPG8g

And this is what the final “Mrs. Doubtfire Children’s Educational Show” became (the final product):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc2Qu2rNhtw

The moral of this story is that if Robin Williams can become “Mrs. Doubtfile”, then skin color has zero impact on the quality of a nature program. What matters is the quality of the narrator.

If you have the skill and talent to create a Nature show of the quality of “Mrs. Doubtfire”, then create your “Interview video” and “strut your stuff”. In the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire”, Robin William’s “interview” was him playing with a bunch of toys that anybody can buy from any local toy store. In other words, creating an “interview video” to show off your skills as a narrator is within the reach of most people who are serious about wanting to become a Nature Video Narrator.

What matters is that you have the brains and the ability to present the knowledge in a way that is educational and entertaining.

If you only have education and no entertainment, you will fail as a nature video commentator.

If you only have entertainment, and no education, you will fail as a nature video commentator.

In 2023, the best nature video commentators have both education and entertainment, and the color of a person’s skin has zero impact on the quality of those two criteria. If you do not believe me, then believe Robin Williams and Mrs. Doubtfire.

But here are some other things to think about before you start using the excuse “England is racist” as to why you are not a successful Nature Video Narrator …

Who is the Mayor of London?

The Mayor of London is Sadiq Khan, and he is Muslim. So to imply that London (or England) is a racist country where nobody except “White middle-class people” can succeed in life is a bunch of manure.

What are the demographics of England?

In 2021 (most recent statistics from Wikipedia):

Population (England): 56,489,800
Population Greater London: 9,787,426
Population Great Manchester: 2,553,379

In 2021, percentage of the population by demographics in England:

White: 81%
Asian: 9.7%
Black: 4.2%
Mixed: 2.9%
Arab: 2.2%

In 2021, the demographics of the population in London:

White population: 53.8
Asian population: 20.7%
Black population: 13.3%
Mixed population: 5.7%
Arab population: 6.3%

So what that means is that out of 1000 people (or 1000 nature show hosts), you will find:

810 shows that are hosted by whites
97 shows that are hosted by Asians
42 shows that are hosted by Blacks
29 shows that are hosted by mixed-race people
22 shows that are hosted by Arabs

How many nature shows were produced in England? Did they follow those demographics? I do not know, but what I do know, but that assuming that every single job in every single industry MUST match EXACTLY (not one person less, not one person more) than the EXACT demographics of the country at large is beyond idiotic.

“Why am I the only brown person here?”

That question was asked by a 5-year-old who visited London. The Mayor of London is a “Brown person” and this person honestly believes that NOBODY in London is a brown person! Did this 5-year-old boy ever bother to ride on a public bus or a public train? If he did, he would have seen plenty of brown people (almost half of them). If just walked down any London street he would have seen plenty of brown people.

In London, the white population is around 53%, but yet the people of London elected a Muslim Mayor, and according to the interviewed “5-year-old-boy” there are zero non-white people in London.

Is the problem really the people of London, or is the problem the 5-year-old-boy and the people who are educating him?

Summary

If you want to be a successful Nature Video Narrator, then be “educational and entertaining”.

And the people who claim “brown children can only learn from brown educators”. There is a traditional saying, “A wise man learns from everybody.”

So White children can learn from everybody, but brown children can only learn from brown educators, what does that say about brown children? But I honestly believe that children are children, and if a Nature Video Narrator is educational and entertaining, all children, regardless of skin color, will enjoy the show.