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BBC to hold Expert Women's Days in Salford, Glasgow and Cardiff BBC to hold Expert Women's Days in Salford, Glasgow and Cardiff
(6 months later)
The BBC is rapidly expanding its hunt for accomplished women able to comment, contribute and potentially make specialist programmes by holding Expert Women's Days in Salford, Glasgow and Cardiff, where at least one hundred candidates will be given free training and advice, with the aim of bringing them to the attention of producers in the areas.The BBC is rapidly expanding its hunt for accomplished women able to comment, contribute and potentially make specialist programmes by holding Expert Women's Days in Salford, Glasgow and Cardiff, where at least one hundred candidates will be given free training and advice, with the aim of bringing them to the attention of producers in the areas.
Tim Davie, acting BBC director general, opening an advanced training day at White City in west London on Monday, confirmed that the Salford event would be first, on 1 May.Tim Davie, acting BBC director general, opening an advanced training day at White City in west London on Monday, confirmed that the Salford event would be first, on 1 May.
The BBC is releasing video interviews on YouTube featuring the experts who have already received training talking about their specialism. It is also creating a database for anyone in the media industry to access – all part of its practical approach to alter the dominance of male expertise traditionally relied on by outlets such as the Today programme.The BBC is releasing video interviews on YouTube featuring the experts who have already received training talking about their specialism. It is also creating a database for anyone in the media industry to access – all part of its practical approach to alter the dominance of male expertise traditionally relied on by outlets such as the Today programme.
Davie has thrown his weight behind the scheme because since the first training day for 30 women on 18 January – followed by a second on 12 March – nine women experts have been used by the BBC and other media operators on 23 occasions, commenting on subjects from horsemeat contamination to asteroids. "I was tremendously heartened, it showed the impact," he said.Davie has thrown his weight behind the scheme because since the first training day for 30 women on 18 January – followed by a second on 12 March – nine women experts have been used by the BBC and other media operators on 23 occasions, commenting on subjects from horsemeat contamination to asteroids. "I was tremendously heartened, it showed the impact," he said.
However, the BBC is not setting targets or quotas on gender grounds.However, the BBC is not setting targets or quotas on gender grounds.
Monday's more intense programme for the 60 invited experts included five-minute radio interviews, three-minute television interviews and voice coaching.Monday's more intense programme for the 60 invited experts included five-minute radio interviews, three-minute television interviews and voice coaching.
Alice Arnold, the former BBC Radio 4 Today newsreader, coached groups of eight on how to prepare for an early morning interview on Today. In the car to the studio "Have a bit of a hum, your lips should be tingling" she said, follow that with a chant, "babaooh dada keygah", to exercise the full vocal range. TV trainers advised women to brush away stray hair that fell across their face, and to say if they didn't understand a question.Alice Arnold, the former BBC Radio 4 Today newsreader, coached groups of eight on how to prepare for an early morning interview on Today. In the car to the studio "Have a bit of a hum, your lips should be tingling" she said, follow that with a chant, "babaooh dada keygah", to exercise the full vocal range. TV trainers advised women to brush away stray hair that fell across their face, and to say if they didn't understand a question.
This was followed by sessions on developing programme or short news feature ideas, with the chance to pitch them to commissioning editors and independent producers in one-to-one slots. Actuary Margaret de Valois, who believes passionately in encouraging people to save for a pension, proposed five short films looking at different pensions options, for BBC Breakfast.This was followed by sessions on developing programme or short news feature ideas, with the chance to pitch them to commissioning editors and independent producers in one-to-one slots. Actuary Margaret de Valois, who believes passionately in encouraging people to save for a pension, proposed five short films looking at different pensions options, for BBC Breakfast.
But Lucy Worsley, the chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces, who has made six history series including The Age of Regency for the BBC, also warned that media exposure and success bring problems, with your appearance and screen personality dissected, as Professor Mary Beard has found, and can create conflicts with your employer.But Lucy Worsley, the chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces, who has made six history series including The Age of Regency for the BBC, also warned that media exposure and success bring problems, with your appearance and screen personality dissected, as Professor Mary Beard has found, and can create conflicts with your employer.
"This is a difficult relationship ... do you want to give up the day job? ... Be aware the media can make you and break you. There are no happy endings," Worsley said."This is a difficult relationship ... do you want to give up the day job? ... Be aware the media can make you and break you. There are no happy endings," Worsley said.
Janice Hadlow, BBC2 controller, said that on top of expertise and communications skills "people who want to be broadcasters are announcing themselves all the time, in the way they write books, write articles ... some catch your eye".Janice Hadlow, BBC2 controller, said that on top of expertise and communications skills "people who want to be broadcasters are announcing themselves all the time, in the way they write books, write articles ... some catch your eye".
This seemed bourne out by some of the nine already on air. Sally Marlow, an alcohol and addiction researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, said she had walked up to Ceri Thomas, editor of the Today programme, at the 18 January expert women event and pitched him an idea about alcohol abuse, which he commissioned.This seemed bourne out by some of the nine already on air. Sally Marlow, an alcohol and addiction researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, said she had walked up to Ceri Thomas, editor of the Today programme, at the 18 January expert women event and pitched him an idea about alcohol abuse, which he commissioned.
Deborah Hallett, a management consultant, contacted Thomas after the training day, and was used on the horsemeat story within 24 hours, then phoned up two weeks later at 6.35am in the morning. She advised her group at Monday's event to consider what they wear when going to a studio, because microphones have to be concealed under tops, which can involve quite a lot of fumbling.Deborah Hallett, a management consultant, contacted Thomas after the training day, and was used on the horsemeat story within 24 hours, then phoned up two weeks later at 6.35am in the morning. She advised her group at Monday's event to consider what they wear when going to a studio, because microphones have to be concealed under tops, which can involve quite a lot of fumbling.
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