Broadcasters losing women staffers: Report

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 01/10/2021

There are more women leaving the broadcasting business than joining. Broadcasters are struggling to retain talent in the aftermath of the pandemic, says UK’s broadcasting and communications authority Ofcom in a report on diversity and equal opportunities. Ofcom calls on industry to focus on retaining and developing diverse talent.

The report says having a workforce that represents UK society helps broadcasters to make programmes that reflect the lives and experiences of their whole audience. “Broadcasters have an obligation, as a condition of their licences, to take measures to promote equality of opportunity in employment. This also helps people to work in broadcasting who otherwise might not have a chance to do so.”

Among conclusions in the report:

• Female employees more likely to leave TV and radio industries
• Proportion of TV employees who are disabled projected to fall over next five years
• Minority representation improves – but remains poor at senior levels

“Broadcasters have made progress hiring a wider range of talent. For example, there are twice as many people working in radio from minority-ethnic backgrounds as there were three years ago”, said Vikki Cook, Ofcom’s Director of Broadcasting Policy, in a statement.

“But for the first time, more people are leaving the industry than joining, particularly women, while disabled people remain significantly underrepresented. And because companies have focused on entry-level recruitment, there still isn’t enough diverse talent in senior roles.

“So we’re calling on broadcasters to slow the revolving door and focus on retaining and progressing talented people from all walks of life.”

In 2017/18, minority ethnic groups made up just 6% of the radio workforce. This has now increased to 10%, though still below the UK working population benchmark of 12%. In TV, 16% of staff are from minority-ethnic backgrounds, up from 13% over the same period.

The report says socio-economic diversity is also lacking, both for the lack of data and what the available data shows.

“Where we have data, it shows that TV employees are almost twice as likely to have had parents in professional occupations (59% compared to the UK benchmark of 33%) and to have attended private school (13% compared with a UK average of 7%).”

“We expect broadcasters to work together – and with their production partners – to create a more inclusive sector for everyone. That includes a greater focus on retention as well as recruitment”, Ofcom said.