Presentation given by the host Margaret E Ward at the Assembly Women's Week 'Seen & Heard' event on 9 March 2016. Margaret E Ward, well-known entrepreneur, journalist and broadcaster, hosted a debate with prominent representatives from the world of broadcasting to discuss under-representation of women in the media and how it can be addressed.

3. The Media’s
inVisible
woMen

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

5. News & current affairs
snapshot in 2010
• 2008 – 8%* (financial crisis)
• 2010 – only 10% to 20% of expert
voices were female

9. 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.

10. 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

13. Feeling small

14. 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

15. What is the media’s role
in society?

16. Reflect society (as it is now)

17. Shine a light on power

18. Fair and accurate representation

19. 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

20. 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

21. Lack of diversity
is a serious
and troubling
media failure

22. 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."

23. No all male panels

24. Public pledge and action on diversity

25. Solutions for media
Track diversity – set gender target figures
Commit to change publically
Publish figures on website
Integrate 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 lists
Build a pipeline by using your own lists
Review performance
Pledge not to have all male panels