International Women's Day 2020: Get out there and be a role model Part 1 in our International Women's Day special By Heather McLean, Editor Thursday, March 5, 2020 - 16:13
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Talking role models on stage at the SVG Europe Women Winter Networking Event 2020 on 30 January at BT Sport, sports presenter Abi Stephens and ex-England goalkeeper and BT Sport football expert, Rachel Brown-Finnis
Role models are needed to bring more women into the sports broadcasting industry, and to help women move up through the ranks to take key positions, adding their insight and ideas to this exciting sector. With International Women's Day once again with us on Sunday 8 March, we are casting a proactive eye on the need for role models for women.
At the recent SVG Europe Women Winter Networking Event with BT Sport and Timeline TV on 30 January, the topic of role models was raised by sports presenter Abi Stephens, who hosted a panel that included ex-England goalkeeper and BT Sport football expert, Rachel Brown-Finnis.
Stephens observed that Brown-Finnis was first a role model on the football pitch and was now a role model on screen. She asked her how important role models really are, particularly for young girls. Brown-Finnis commented: Very important. I came into this industry at 35, and I was a complete beginner. I felt a bit uncomfortable about the idea that I'm a role model. Football was the thing I was comfortable with. It was great to have some young footballers looking up to me and wanting to play for England, because you have to have some drive to compete at that level.
I never had female role models growing up; Peter Schmeichel from Manchester United was my role model. I wanted to be loud, I wanted to be commanding - and I wanted to be blonde like him!
It's quite nice now to understand that I'm now potentially a role model in my second career in this industry. I want to hear how people in my position can help anyone.
She added: I don't believe in luck. I've been a sportsperson my whole life, and have quantified what luck is. Luck doesn't exist. You work towards what you can achieve. You have to recognise you're good at your job, and that's why you're in this position. I want to discover how I can be the best, proactive role model.
Speaking out
Inga Ruehl, Sky Sports executive director, production services and operations, is a woman charging to the top of the career ladder in sports broadcasting. She notes that the first step to being a role model is understanding that you are one. Maybe first of all you need to realise that you are a role model. Secondly [you need to] be visible and be heard; even if you don't like being on panels or stages, you need to be there as there and you need to show that there are women doing the jobs, able to deliver and balance the rest of their lives.
Thirdly, find good women in your organisation and help them wherever and whenever you can; support each other. And one more; make a plan on how to increase your gender diversity in your organisation; make sure you look at your recruitment strategy and set targets around gender. Where you can, support working that can help with balancing family needs, Ruehl states.
The next International Women's Day 2020 feature will be published next week watch this space!
Speaking out in public at events is an important part of taking on the responsibility of being a role model, says Claudia Corbisiero, producer at Noah Media Group: I think that visibility is key, particularly in roles which are behind the camera. When other women see these role models holding senior positions in typically male dominated industries, they are more able to envision doing these roles themselves. Therefore when role models attend events, speak out, impart wisdom and get involved at industry events, particularly ones that encourage female attendance, other women become more aware of their own potential.
Angela Gibbons, CTV Outside Broadcasts commercial manager, says: Social media can be hugely valuable in reaching young women, either those in the last years at school, university or in the early stages of their careers. For so long much of the imagery connected with sports broadcasting has been male biased. The female presenters and sports broadcasters of today need to become much more accessible to the young female audience. The success of women's football and cricket has highlighted how inclusive sport has become and this needs to be transferred across to all aspects of sports broadcasting.
True role model: BBC director of sport, Barbara Slater, wins the SVG Europe Women Achievement Award 2020 at the Winter Networking event
Each for equal
Telstra Broadcast Services' Anna Lockwood, head of global sales, comments on the current lack of role models in this industry: There is now a lot more focus and momentum on making sports broadcasting a more diverse and inclusive industry, but it is still a challenging pathway for women, and a lot of that stems from the lack of role models in all areas of the sports broadcasting industry.
Just seeing women do any role across the business makes a difference to attracting talent, and then if women are in prominent roles or leadership roles that are even more visible, that helps in retaining, supporting and promoting talent as well, Lockwood continues. We need our role models and inspiring women leaders to not only help attract diverse talent into the industry, but also create and model the conditions where women can stay and thrive in varied roles throughout their career.
Lockwood adds: This year's International Women's Day theme of Each for Equal' is an important one to hopefully inspire each of us to work towards equality in sports broadcasting, individually as well as collaboratively, and men as we
