Benny the Bilge Rat digs deep into the dungeons of World Sailing policy.
The problem with an organization so vast and far-flung as World Sailing, is that it’s hard to keep track of what they’re actually doing. Apart from its governing councils, WS has 23 separate committees. Yep, that’s 23 groups of international representatives, each with the power to formulate policy and make recommendations within their particular areas of responsibility.
Case in point. Take a look, at the spreadsheet extract above . It’s the World Sailing “Portrayal Tracker Dashboard”. WTF is that? (you may well ask). Let dear Benny explain:
It’s the work of the WS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Their purpose – as stated in the World Sailing Constitution – is “to promote and develop equity, diversity and inclusion within the sport of Sailing”. That includes a duty “to promote and monitor” the implementation of that policy. (Don’t tell Trump, he’ll bomb WS. But on the other hand perhaps that’s not the worst thing that could happen. – ed)
Note the use of that trigger word “monitor”. Shades of ThinkPol – the ‘thought police’ in George Orwell’s novel 1984.
The Portrayal Tracker is nothing less than a checklist to measure compliance with the WS inclusion targets. This includes “the eradication of patronizing or trivializing terminology” and “breaking down historical stereotypes in sports reporting”. More specifically, the stated goals are “establishing standards for language usage, photography, and broadcast camera angles”. (WTF??)
You have been warned! No more low-angle photos of attractive young men and women windsurfing!
The Portrayal Guidelines are meant to frame any releases or coverage created and distributed by World Sailing and its member organizations. But, in today’s cash-strapped media world, most outlets simply re-post PR material rather than commission independent reporting. So, the politically correct “inclusive” version – as approved by World Sailing – is likely to be published verbatim, unedited, and without analysis or commentary.
It’s extraordinary that WS makes no apology for outlining a process intended to shape the content and tone with which the sport of sailing is covered. This is media manipulation, pure and simple. Yet their website is quite happy to confirm the goal is to “influence behaviors and change attitudes”. Funny. I thought the whole purpose of World Sailing was to promote the sport and govern its conduct. Silly me.
If you’re wondering how the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee could come up with this blatant attempt at social engineering, there’s a clue in World Sailing’s outline of what kind of people they reckon should be members of that group:
“The members of the Committee should have both a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the sport of Sailing and experience working on equity, diversity and inclusion issues, preferably with lived experience as a member of a group which has historically experienced discrimination or oppression.”
How’s that for self-selecting criteria! If you think you’ve been a victim of “discrimination or oppression”, then World Sailing wants you on their committee to help stamp out the dastardly evil-doers. How? By controlling the way our sport and its participants are reported.
The Rat
