[My-ci] Call Centres = Creative Industries?

[Variant]

I wonder if someone on the list can help?

Some fantastical figures seem to abound concerning 'employment' in the  
'Creative Industries'. I say fantastical because they bare scant  
resemblance to my immediate experience or those of my peers.

Scottish Artists Union research has shown that: "82% of visual artists  
recently surveyed (by far the highest proportion of all artforms)  
earned a mere £5,000 per year (gross) or less, from their artistic  
activity." Showing that the nature of this 'employment' where it exists  
also needs to be scrutinised.

But I seem to remember seeing somewhere that call centre workers were  
included as being part of the 'Communications Industry', and that, in  
turn, the 'Communications Industry' was counted as being part of  
'Creative Industries'. If true, I suspect this would also include PR  
people: 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you : PR people are now said to  
outnumber journalists in the UK. So why are so many potential hacks  
turning to the 'dark side'? And does the industry really deserve its  
reputation?'  
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/02/pressandpublishing2>

Could anyone on the list please substantiate this for me? And any  
pointers to research in this area would be much appreciated.

George Monbiot's recent article, 'Jobs are used to justify anything,  
but the numbers don't add up', might also be of interest:
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/01/ 
economy.guardiancolumnists>


All the best & many thanks,
Leigh



-------------------------------------------
Variant
...in-depth coverage in the context of
broader social, political & cultural issues.

1/2 189b Maryhill Road
Glasgow G20 7XJ

    t. +44 (0)141 333 9522
    e. variantmag at btinternet.com
    http://www.variant.org.uk

receive events info & online Variant:
variantforum-subscribe at topica.com
-------------------------------------------