RTS hosted an evening of discussion on womens access to science and tech roles in the TV industry
Author:
Neal RomanekPublish date:
Apr 28, 2017Social count:
0
RTS hosted an evening of discussion on womens access to science and tech roles in the TV industry
0
SHARES
This week at Londons Hospital Club, the Royal Television Society held a conference called "Breaking Barriers: How can the TV industry encourage more women into technology jobs?". Attended by women from around the UK film and TV industry - from students to top network execs - the event featured an interactive panel which explored the challenges women face in entering the media tech jobs.
On the panel were Sara Putt, deputy chair of Women in Film and Television and head of the Sara Putt Associates agency, Sinead Greenaway, chief technology and operations officer at UKTV, space scientist and The Sky At Night presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE and OBstv sound engineer, Anna Patching. The panel was moderated by Maggie Philbin OBE, CEO of the education initiative Teen Tech.
The panelists and attendees traded experience and insight on the problem of female under-representation in industry technology jobs. The evening opened with host Maggie Philbin presenting some shameful statistics:
- Women make up 12.8% of the total STEM (science, technology, engineering maths) workforce
- In higher education, women account for 15% of enrollment in engineering and technology courses
- Only 8% of engineers in the UK are female (4% for jobs involving coding)
Finding role models
One of the key block to getting qualified women interested in the TV tech fields is a lack of high visibility role models. Philbin cited the "CSI effect", which saw the number of women entering forensic science explode with the success of the CSI TV series franchise.
Maggie Aderin-Pocock frequently speaks at schools. "The kids get lit up by TV. I tell them Im a space scientist, but what they really get excited about is TV. And they dont realise how many different areas science is involved in.
"Girls can get quite blinkered. They dont know any other engineers. Some people are just lucky to be exposed to it. They have a brother or a dad who worked in it. We need to get out and sell it to them."
A corporate role model for the future is being carved out by companies like UKTV. The company is 60% female at every level, said Sinead Greenaway. "And we encourage people to move around the organisation. Ive just moved a couple women from operational into testing. We allow people to move into technical jobs that they may not have considered...We hire for potential rather than ability."
Sarah Putt, who, through her agency, works extensively with below the line crew, agreed with the need for role models and an engaged community of peers for women trying to build and expand a career.
"There are lots of small companies and freelancers now. There isnt that employment mechanism and duty of care with an HR department that you used to have. You need to look at people whose careers youd like to emulate. And in technical areas its difficult."
A great place to thrive
UKTV has become a very successful multichannel broadcaster, with growth that is ongoing. Greenaway suggested the companys outlook and its success may not be entirely coincidental.
Greenaway noted that some aspects of broadcast might appeal particularly to women: "It's an industry where people don't judge what you look like. It's creative, teams are solving problems. You can do that in jeans and trainers. Its such a great place to thrive, where its your work thats judged, not what you're wearing."
The discussion circled back again and again to the need for early education, to let girls, young women, and even women mid-career know the technology the sectors were abundant with potential career paths and that, more importantly, science and tech could be thrilling no matter what your gender.
The RTSs Terry Marsh, event producer for RTS and Jury Chair of the RTS Young Technologist of the Year, spoke from the audience about her activities educating young people about the opportunities in tech and science jobs. As an educator, she realised had special opportunities to foster growth and awareness.
"When I do a programme for school, I tell them you have to send us an equal number of boys and girls. If they say, Oh, we wont be able to do that", we say You will. Or we cancel", and they find a way. If you offer education to school, you can lay down the terms."
Many paths
Sound engineer Anna Patching decided she wanted to go into outside broadcast from early on. She had a boyfriend whos dad worked on sound for big festival shows, so she knew that OB existed as a potential career path. But she notes from the outside, the industry can seem quite impenetrable.
"The problem is how to get people to apply in the first place. I wouldnt apply for some of these jobs. Theres an idea that to be an engineer or a scientist you have to have all A-stars in school. I myself wouldnt have met the criteria to get on the BBC apprenticeship scheme, for example. But there are many paths open to you. You dont have to be top of the class."
In fact, in the UK, female secondary school students do better at physics than males, so talent is not lacking. What is lacking is encouragement and role models, as well as an industry ready to receive and nurture that female talent when it does say "yes to our industry.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
RTS hosted an evening of discussion on womens access to science and tech roles in the TV industry
