1. Women at the BBC – a complex story..
Amanda Rice, Head of Diversity
For the: Corporate Research Forum
February 2011
Amanda Rice, BBC Head of Diversity

2. The Pan BBC Diversity Strategy
Formal BBC Div Strategy in place since 2005.
(Clearly good work going on well before that – Diversity a core value and Equal Opps policy in place since ’83)
Included broad objectives across 4 activity areas –
Corp Strategy (and meeting public purposes) – Audiences - Output – Workforce
With Strategy in place – helped to drive forward a range of initiatives –particularly workforce related, but also elsewhere…
HOWEVER – no implementation framework in place to help achieve systematic and consistent diversity activity across all areas
OR crucially to allow us to capture and demonstrate good work and measure progress
To address– Strategy reviewed and updated at end of Implementation framework developed

3. Women at the BBC
Daily Mail May 11th 1973 “Women are Given the Freedom of the BBC” “Women’s Lib has won a major victory at the BBC. The Corporations 8,000 women workers have been promised the same chance as the men of getting to the top…. The equal rights charter, which takes effect immediately, follows years of lobbying at BBC centres throughout Britain.
The ‘old days’..
Previous Interventions…
Today: BBC wide:
49% women: 51% men
36% women: 64% men SMs
Good Executive representation
Divisional & departmental variances particularly at snr level
The view today…
Daily Mail May 11th 1973 “Women are Given the Freedom of the BBC”
“Women’s Lib has won a major victory at the BBC. The Corporations 8,000 women workers have been promised the same chance as the men of getting to the top…. The equal rights charter, which takes effect immediately, follows years of lobbying at BBC centres throughout Britain.

4. BBC Journalism - Women News Global English Regions Devolved nations
Perception of the divisional / News environment culture
Nature of the work: fast-paced, 24/7
Other more tangible barriers
Challenges in focusing on specific diversity initiatives.
Limited turnover

5. BBC Vision - Women Production & Commissioning
Production areas include eg:
Comedy; Drama;
Entertainment; Factual
Multi-platform
Critical mass of women
Gender balance in Production
Perceptions of the culture of the division
Higher turnover
Leadership
Diversity as a creative opportunity

6. Where to now?
Thoughts:
Not a clear cut picture – differences within and between.
Commitment to development of women from top to bottom is important.
Formal pathways to progression and for networking.
A broader look at interventions – reverse mentoring.
Harnessing the positive impact of diverse role models.
For BBC – link to creative opportunities and audience reach/ appreciation.
Need a pan industry evidence based approach - exploring barriers to female progression / portrayal both on and off screen.

7. Thank you.