Profiles

Ex-BBC anchor Susan Osman moves to China

By Zhao Chunzhe (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-07 15:52

In this video grab image, Susan Osman is seen hosting a BBC program. [file]

Former BBC anchor Susan Osman is moving to Beijing to host a breakfast show and escape the ingrained "culture of ageism" in the country's broadcasting industry, the People's Daily Overseas Edition reported Monday.

Osman has worked in broadcasting for 28 years, presenting bulletins on BBC World and reporting for ITN News before falling out of favor with her bosses with one even challenging her "Are you menopausal?"

She said: "This is quite typical. I've had so many female colleagues who have dropped out in their early forties, which is a shame because an older woman can bring wisdom and empathy. There don't seem to be many places for older women in broadcasting in this country."

"But you know what is sarcastic, when I just started my TV career, I was always afraid of not being taken seriously for being young. The truth is when you're not getting any younger, it becomes even worse," she added.

However, a BBC spokesman said: "Broadcasting, especially presenting, is an extremely competitive industry and the nature of it is such that many broadcasters are freelance artists on contracts of specific durations," he said. "Ageism has nothing to do with it."

Susan's son, graduated from the Oxford, came to China last year and he advised Susan to make the move.

She has recently signed a one-year contract with the China Radio International to host a prime-time breakfast show.

"In China they revere experience," she said. "The older you are the better. I got the impression that my future boss actually wanted me to be older when I finally told him my age during the interview. He hopes I could help in training young reporters."