Of course, now they promise to do something about it, but it will just subject them to charges of reverse racism and litigation.
The BBC is more "hideously white" than ever, after it was revealed that the number of black executives has dropped to the lowest in years.Reminds me of our first black president, who didn't appoint nearly as many minorities to cabinet-level positions as his successor did.
Embarrassing new figures show it has even fewer ethnic minority bosses now than it did four years ago when former director general Greg Dyke used the phrase to describe the corporation.
Now the BBC has controversially said it will "fast-track" young ethnic staff to senior positions, leading to accusations of positive discrimination.
This will see it ring-fence half the places on a course designed to find new senior staff specifically for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
This has sparked fury from some politicians who have claimed it is further evidence of the BBC's obsession with "political correctness".
They have also claimed the scheme, which the BBC says will give ethnic staff a "leg-up" the ladder, is "positive discrimination" and may be illegal.
Conservative MP Philip Davies has contacted Sir Trevor Phillips at the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to complain about it.
The politician who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee said: "This kind of approach is absolutely typical of the politically correct culture that dominates the BBC. Jobs should be given on merit, irrespective of ethnic background."
He added: "This is just clear cut positive discrimination and this is the type of thing that just makes people's blood boil. They should be colour blind when employing people."
Latest figures show not only has the BBC failed to hit targets, it has actually gone backwards, in the number of non-white senior staff.
UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds links. Thanks!
Also at ATW.
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