More than half of women working in media say they are either dissatisfied or uncertain about their careers, a new report has found.
The charity, Women in Media (WiM), released findings from their Industry Insight Report for 2023, revealing that up to one-third of women are considering leaving their jobs in the next 12 months, while more than half scored the media industry’s commitment to gender equality as ‘weak/very weak’.
Women in Media Strategic Advisor, Petra Buchanan said the industry can no longer ignore the consistent barriers faced by women in the media industry.
“The findings highlight deep concerns about gender equality and a lack of industry support that continues to hinder women’s career progress,” Buchanan said.
“The statistics speak volumes – with an entrenched gender pay gap above the national average and increased bias and discrimination. It’s a critical moment for employers and the media industry to step up; the departure of women from media is a loss society cannot afford.”
The report found that most women want gender pay audits to be introduced to tackle the media industry’s entrenched higher than average pay gap, while two-thirds believe shadowing programs can provide access to leaders and hands-on learning.
The annual survey, now in its second year, aims to draw attention to issues concerning women across all media, including journalism, communications, production, public relations, publishing and digital media.
Victoria Laurie, one of the founding members of Women in Media in Western Australia when it launched in 2005, said that employers need to be more transparent and engage with women in their ranks.
“Women want to work in environments where they are active contributors, recognised for their achievements and able to progress in their careers,” she said. “The report shows continued dissatisfaction, especially at the middle stages of women’s careers, which needs to be addressed.”
“The data clearly pinpoints where effort can be made to better support women.”
The report offered recommendations for ways that media employers can address women’s concerns. They include providing greater transparency about pay and actively engage with women about issues and opportunities within their workforce, increased support from leaders and managers, and opportunities for professional development in areas such as digital skills, knowledge of podcasting and social media.
Read the full report here.