Soundwomen to be celebrated at parliamentary event

From a press release to news@media.info
Posted 27 November 2014, 8.27am est

The achievements of Networking and development group Sound Women will be celebrated by the BBC and commercial Radio all party parliamentary groups at an event at the Houses of Parliament.

On 2nd December, two of the most prominent women in radio - BBC Director of Radio Helen Boaden and Siobhan Kenny, Chief Executive of the Radio Centre - the trade body for commercial radio, will join industry colleagues and parliamentarians from the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Sound Women patrons Magic FM’s Angie Greaves, Radio 4’s Jane Garvey and Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale will also be in attendance as well as a host of VIP guests from across the radio industry.

Sound Women patron and BBC Radio 4 presenter Jane Garvey commented on the event, “I’m really proud to be a patron of Sound Women. Radio is beginning to better represent audiences but I believe there is still work to be done to ensure women’s voices are heard on-air, and so that women are in positions to make big editorial decisions.”

Soundwomen was established in 2011 to help women get more out of working in radio and to help the radio industry get more out of women’s skills and talents. In its first three years Sound Women has commissioned ‘a Women on-air’ research report which has helped build understanding of gender diversity issues in UK radio.

The group also campaigns for more women on-air. An announcement from the BBC Director General Tony Hall to have a female co-host or lead female presenter in 50% of local BBC Breakfast Shows has followed.

The organisation has also set up and run mentoring schemes for Soundwomen members and established the highly successful BBC local radio mentoring scheme. The group has also well as run training courses around topics such as negotiating pay, radio technical skills, building confidence and returning to work after a period of not working as well as networking events across the UK.

The Sound Women parliamentary event is invitation only and takes place on the 2nd of December.