Sound Women is a networking and development group for women working in UK audio and radio.
Our aim is to build the confidence, networking and leadership skills of women in audio.
We want all women in our industry to feel that they can reach their full potential. We want women’s voices to become more influential and we want to make the audio industry more representative.
We made this short video to explain who we are when we launched in October 2011.
Sound Women are doing this by:
- Working positively with the industry to build on opportunities for women
- Running a mentoring scheme
- Providing new ways for women to network
- Offering training workshops
- Commissioning new research into women in audio
- Celebrating the achievements of women in audio
If you would like to work with us please get in touch.
Sound Women is a not for profit organisation.
A breath of fresh airwaves. So glad to have found you.
Would be great if, eventually, Sound Women could consider offering mentoring, advice, technical support and more to women creating audio productions across the developing world. They have so many challenges to overcome yet so much difference to make.
More power to you.
Fiona
I am also glad to have discovered you.
I think the more women present and produce docs and features, the more female experts have their say. It’s just that one is aware of an imbalance and does a little to try to address the issue. I think maybe we take a little more time and effort to try to seek out a female to interview over a male – if both are broadly similar in their opinions.
I do not understand this hue and cry that there are not enough “women” in broadcasting. Their places should be on merit alone and not sex. This ridulous campaign is going to lead to more unqualified women in terms of their ability and presentation to the detriment of listeners and viewers. Many women are not suited to this kind of work and we will end up like the US with “pretty”faces”, irritating voices and no substance. As a woman who has been in business for 50 years working for some time in a male industry I found no discrimination as I was appointed on my ability. Let us keep a sense of proportion and stop this nonsence before it gets out of hand.
Thanks for your comment Elizabeth. At Sound Women we believe in merit too, but find it interesting that ‘recruiting on merit’ over the years has led to so many men, and so few women… I’m delighted you did so well in a male industry for 50 years. However I know many eminently qualified women in radio who have found themselves ‘not chosen’ for key roles time after time. We’re looking to unlock this potential for the benefit of the whole radio industry. We want women to succeed at all levels of audio production, not just presenting. And isn’t it great that radio is one place where it doesn’t matter what you look like?
Oh my word, having just come across your website, I am appalled you feel it necessary to get women employed who have a lack of talent, purely based on a weak sexist argument. In my experience of professional radio (15 years) we employ people who are right for the job. Shouting from the hilltops about how unfair this industry is makes you look petty and ridiculous. In fact as a man, I find your campaign itself sexist!
There is one simple mantra to achieve your goal… BE BETTER!!
Thanks for your comment Jason. I’m sorry you are so appalled by our campaign, and think it’s based on “a weak sexist argument”. It’s actually based on a very solid set of facts and figures in a Skillset report. We’ve also been very clear that men are welcome to become honorary Sound Women, as we don’t see it as a women versus men issue. We see it as about right versus wrong. About basic equality. And we’ve had support from many men in radio, from the BBC’s Tim Davie to Clive Dickens of Absolute and many more – all of whom can see that the industry is currently missing out by losing so many women around the age of 35. Missing out on talent and leadership, both emerging and experienced, on air and in senior management.
It’s fine to say “be better”. Every Sound Woman wants to be better at what they do – to be THE BEST at what they do. But for too long that’s meant behaving like a man. And we would prefer to change the culture of our workplaces so we don’t have to do that – so that female talent on air and in production can be brilliant in its own way, for the benefit of our industry AND our listeners. So you’re free to dismiss what we do. But as fellow radio professionals we’d much rather work with you to make the industry a fairer, more creative, more representative place. If you change your mind any time, we’d love to have you on board…
Just doing my radio show in Brighton, Juice 107.2 – Totallywired. It’s great to know you exist, it’s good to re-dress. In Brighton there are a fair few of us, shout out to Melita Dennett and the other Reverb Radio Girls!
Excellent – let’s set up a Brighton office!
You ‘sound’ really interesting to me.. I make music and would be very interested in contributing in some way if i can. The video is great and yes yes yes, more women on the radio please.. X