women in TV

Is older the new younger in television?

Girlfriends (Credit: ITV)

The debate over women working in television has come a long way since 1986 when Coronation Street was an all-male cabal. In those days, all the female characters were written by men. Yet, as recently as 2015, when Red Productions unveiled the latest run of ITV’s trail-blazing cop show Scott and Bailey, the response of male journalists could be relentlessly sexist, revealed actor Lesley Sharp.

Why are women in TV still being paid less than men?

Why, 46 years after the Equal Pay Act, are women in television still being paid less than men? “A man at exactly the same grade as me, with far less education and experience, and who joined the BBC after I did, was paid £10,000 more than me,” says one female staffer. 

“I am paid £5,000 less than a man on the same grade, despite having more responsibility and having worked more years on the team,” ­complains another. 

YOUNG TV-MAKERS SUCCESS

Young Peoples’ Media Festival participants

Young people with a passion for broadcasting and filmmaking have been celebrated at one of the region’s most prestigious media events.

The University of Sunderland hosted the RTS North East and Border Centre, Young Peoples’ Media Festival (YPMF) on Wednesday 18 May. The festival celebrates work from students, schools and colleges throughout the North East, North Yorkshire, and Cumbria.