Background:
LOS ANGELES--Diversity
in programming is a growing priority
for major studios and networks, according
to Ron Taylor, vice president, Diversity
Development for Fox Broadcasting Company
and 20th Century Fox TV Studios.
“I think there is a growing
understanding on the part of studios
and networks on the importance of
diversity,” says Taylor. “Networks
and studios are aware of the demographic
changes in our country. This audience
is extremely important to their success.”
Taylor, at age 53, is a veteran of
programming development for major
studios, though he has only served
in diversity development for almost
two years. In his current position,
he spearheads efforts to guide more
diverse writers, directors and actors
into jobs on series broadcast on FBC,
and/or on shows produced by 20th Century
Fox TV.
Taylor, who began his career in television
at ABC-TV in the 1970s under Fred
Silverman, has worked as a network
and studio development executive,
as well as a TV series writer. Most
recently, he was vice president, Development
and Current Programming at Columbia-TriStar,
where he developed series for cable
TV, including “Strong Medicine”
on Lifetime and “Street Time”
on Showtime.
Taylor was one of the first executives
hired at UPN and was instrumental
in creating that network from 1994-97.
Ron has also been a development executive
at Warner Bros. and Disney, and a
writer of episodes for such series
as “Renegade,” “Forever
Knight,” “Covington Cross”
and “The Sentinel.” He
recently wrote the short film “Brothers
of the Borderland,” which is
presented daily at the National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati,
Ohio.
In a recent interview, Taylor, who
ironically graduated from Yale University
with a degree in Latin American Studies
in 1973, talked about diversity in
the entertainment industry and his
role in seeing that it happens.
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