On Monday The first ‘Women on Air’ conference took place at Dublin Castle. The purpose of the gathering was to promote a greater diversity and equality between male and female presenters and commentators in the broadcast media.
The conference covered politics, the need to encourage women into the boardrooms and decision making levels of organisations as well as onto the airwaves. This report of the days proceedings by Orla Barry of Newstalk lists some of the points that were made, ironically underneath a Newstalk banner promoting the day’s programme line up on the station that shows seven lead broadcasters, all of them male.
Ironically there was little mention or reference to women broadcasters in sport. This is an area where there has been significant progress made and not just in recent months.
In the UK Clare Balding has become one of the most senior and respected anchor hosts heading up Channel 4’s Paralympics and Horse Racing coverage, as well as playing a key role in major events on the BBC such as the Olympics and Winter Olympics.
Gabby Logan presented Match of the Day for the first time last month while Sue Barker and Suzy Perry are among the women broadcasters playing a visible and talented role in the coverage of sport. Helen Chamberlain and Charlotte Jackson on Sky are among the many more showing that even in the world of magazine programming, talented women make for good hosts and presenters.
Ireland
In Ireland we have Jacqui Hurley who featured on our list of Most Influential Women in Sport as well as Sinead Kissane, Joanne Cantwell, Evanne Ní Chuillin, Clare McNamara and more who have blazed a trail through what was traditionally seen as a mans world.
In the US there are more examples with Amy Wilson, Rachel Collins and others making their way through male sports and drawing huge personal followings because they are intelligent commentators.
India
Even in India, where equality has a bit further to travel, Isa Guhu is one of the analysts that covers the massively popular Indian Premier League in cricket. Breifne Earley tuned into her coverage of a recent major game while crossing the country as part of a Cycle against Suicide initiative and reported back that women feature as one of three or one of two analysts for all the major games.
Perhaps the next time the Women on Air Conference comes to Dublin sport will get it’s place at the table. Indeed if the organisers are looking for someone who has made it to a decision making role, Barbara Slater as Head of Sport at the BBC fits the bill perfectly.
Follow more of our campaign for parity of esteem in Women’s sport.
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