BBC Radio 5 live's 100 Women in One Day

BBC Radio 5 live is aiming to feature at least 100 women on air in one day to report the news through the eyes of women around the world.

Published: 7 December 2016
This is a bold idea that has come about because we recognise women are under-represented in the media and we want to do something both positive and practical about it.
— Rozina Breen, Head of News, BBC Radio 5 live

The station's ambition is to hear from at least 100 female contributors, experts and reporters during the course of Thursday December 8.

100 Women on 5 live is part of the BBC’s 100 Women Season, which looks at gender issues around the world.

Research shows women are still significantly under-represented across the media. By seeking to hear from 100 different women in 24 hours, BBC Radio 5 live is hoping to highlight this issue, generate a debate with its listeners and do something positive to change gender inequality in the media.

It’s hoped these new voices will create a lasting legacy for BBC Radio 5 live, with the station having expanded its contact base to include a wider pool of women contributors it can use on air for stories and as experts in the future.

The station’s presenting line-up will remain the same and male contributors and callers will still be on-air. But the aim will be to tell news stories from a female perspective with every effort made to ensure those contributing – such as reporters, programme guests and callers – are female.

Rozina Breen, head of news at BBC Radio 5 live, says: “100 Women on 5 live is designed to challenge ourselves about the stories we choose and how we tell those stories. This is a bold idea that has come about because we recognise women are under-represented in the media and we want to do something both positive and practical about it.

“Gender inequality in news reporting is an industry-wide problem across the news media. It won't be addressed in one day but this gives us a clear aim and is part of range of activities we are doing to better ensure our output is representative of the whole population.

“I hope the day will be both challenging and inclusive and leave us with a lasting legacy of great new talent.”

The day will start with business news programme Wake Up To Money broadcasting live from Reykjavik in Iceland. The country was recently named the best place in the world to be a working woman.

Later in the day guests will include author Jeanette Winterson, singer Martha Wainwright and a Chicago mother who has become an anti-gun campaigner following her son’s murder. The youngest and oldest female MPs in the House of Commons – Mhairi Black and Ann Clwyd – will discuss life in parliament for women.

Elsewhere on Thursday, the wider BBC is working with Wikipedia editors around the world to hold a 12 hour global edit-a-thon on to encourage more female editors on the site and increase articles about women. Edits will be recorded and live tweeted, with the shared hashtag #100womenwiki. The event will be shown on the BBC’s live page bbc.co.uk/100women, and on its social media platforms over the course of the day.

The edit-a-thon will mark the end of this year’s BBC’s 100 Women season which has seen three weeks of thought-provoking broadcast and online special reports, debates, programmes and journalism, running online at bbc.com/100women, on BBC World News TV, and on the 29 global language services of BBC World Service Group, as well as network news.

BBC Radio 5 live will reflect the edit-a-thon during its Breakfast programme and will ask listeners for suggestions of women who deserve more recognition.

SM

Notes to Editors

  • Research on the dominance of men in news coverage can be found at: http://womeninjournalism.co.uk/research/
  • Launched in 2013, 100 Women is part of the BBC’s pledge to better represent women in its international news output. Now in its fourth year, the 2016 season will encompasses a fortnight of debates, programmes, special reports and journalism, and reveal this year’s list of 100 inspirational women.
  • The station has been doing extensive work to improve the representation of women on air and has successfully introduced new female presenters, reporters, sports commentators and contributors.

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