The Media’s inVisible woMen

Radio gaga: where are the women in Irish radio? 2010

News & current affairs snapshot in 2010

• 2008 – 8%* (financial crisis)

• 2010 – only 10% to 20% of expert voices were female

Women on Air’s ‘push and pull’ solutions

• Research – WOA encourages research into barriers to women on radio and TV and seeks to break them down. WOA liaises with academic community, media the BAI and politicians to ensure more research and policy development is done in this area.

• Create practical tools – WOA provides a free directory of female contributors for producers and researchers on womenonair.ie called "The List" so they can more easily find women who are willing to share their expert views and opinions on air.

• Influence – WOA works hard at persuading media executives, industry bodies, producers and researchers that more women are possible on air.

• Mentor and train – WOA runs training programmes for media contributors and links them with programme producers

• Build supportive community – WOA assists and encourages expert women to get on airwaves through our events, social meetings and coffees.

News & current affairs snapshot in 2015

• 2008 – 8%* (financial crisis)• 2010 – only 10% to 20% of expert voices

were female• 2012 – 25% average• 2014 – 22% average• 2015 – 28% average

*two programmes only

Feeling small

Women on Air• Voluntary organisation holding the

media to account • Considered an integral part of the

industry by the BAI• Great improvement in public service• Commercial sector static and hostile

What is the media’s role in society?

Reflect society (as it is now)

Shine a light on power

Fair and accurate representation

Function of journalism• Acts as fourth pillar of democracy• Shapes our ideas of ourselves

and others• Informs society about itself• Makes public what might be private• Acts in the public interest

Women: the voiceless majority• 51% of the population• NOT a minority group• Higher levels of educational attainment• Divergence begins in workplace• Lack of promotion or equal pay• Do not have same opportunities

to fulfill human potential• Lack a public voice

Lack of diversity is a serious

and troubling media failure

Rafter: "Even allowing for an argument that the world of business is male dominated, a

striking 92% of guests were male; 8% were female. The near-total absence

of female voices points to a significant failure by the editorial decision-makers."

No all male panels

Public pledge and action on diversity

Solutions for mediaTrack diversity – set gender target figuresCommit to change publicallyPublish figures on websiteIntegrate diversity into all processes (researcher and producer training, editorial reviews, journalistic standards and ethics)Find women by attending women’s networks (media, law, etch) to find new contributors Use existing listsBuild a pipeline by using your own listsReview performance Pledge not to have all male panels