Susan Osman
Susan Osman is a British journalist known for her work with BBC, ITV and China Radio International.
Osman was a theatre director in Brighton, and also worked in that capacity in Washington, DC. She began her television career in 1983 at HTV West. She also worked as an investigative reporter for Channel 4's consumer affairs programme 4 What It's Worth.[1]
She first joined BBC West in 1991. She presented the current affaires programme Close Up and also hosted her own radio program Radio Bristol's Morning Show. She also hosted the program Points West until leaving that position in 2005.[1] She continued doing free-lance work for the network until 2009.[2]
Osman left her position at the BBC in 2009. Osman left the network, blasting rampant age-discrimination against women in broadcasting. She stated that women in broadcasting have a "sell-by date" and that every time she mentions her age, she worries about ending her career.[2] She stated that she even had a manager ask if she was menopausal.[3] Because of this, Osman felt she had no future in the United Kingdom.[3][2] The BBC denied the allegations of ageism.
Osman accepted a job at China Radio International in 2009, largely to allow herself to continue advancing in her career. She praised Chinese culture's respect for older persons. She took a position as the host of the English-language talk show The Beijing Hour. She has faced some difficulties from the Chinese government's insistence on censorship. The private lives of leaders, the Tiananmen Square protests and Falun Gong are off-limits to her show, as well as a variety of smaller issues that are censored at times.[2]
Osman has set up film companies called Nick O’Time Films, and Osman Films, along with her writing partner Rowena Goldman.[1] She is also working on a book that will be called Flirting with the Dragon – Why we misunderstand China.
References
- 1 2 3 "Susan Osman departs Points West". BBC Press Office. 10 February 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Branigan, Tania (3 March 2010). "From the BBC to Chinese state radio". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- 1 2 "'My BBC boss asked me if I was menopausal': Presenter slams corporation's 'culture of ageism'". Daily Mail. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2015.