Equality, diversity & inclusion
It is important that what audiences watch, listen to and consume are reflective of the diversity of Irish society. Equally, ensuring workplaces within the sector are suitably diverse, accessible and inclusive is key.
To support this, we work with broadcasters to continually advance gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the Irish media sector. We monitor, report on progress and include gender, equality, diversity and inclusion criteria in all broadcast licences going forward.
Much has been achieved to ensure a balance of people, voices, stories and lived experiences on our screens, on the airwaves and working within the sector. However, there is more work to be done. A diverse and inclusive media sector is essential for our society, for our democracy and for our cultural development. It is vital that our media reflects the many and varied voices of our society.
Strategy
We have developed a Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy for the media sector. Its objective is to support the sector in planning, developing and delivering a range of strategic activities and initiatives according to best practice, with a view to fostering a media landscape that is representative of and accessible to the diversity of Irish society. TV and radio broadcasters are expected to give due consideration to this and implement recommendations from the Strategy.
Key pillars of the strategy
There are four interrelated pillars, each with key principles, tools and actions. These are:
- Workplace/Culture
- Representation/Content
- Development
- Engagement
Workplace/Culture actions and tools principally relate to training, recruitment and career progression practices, while Representation/Content actions and tools relate to the content produced and broadcast for audiences. For instance, under this pillar Producers are encouraged to use the ‘Women on Air’ database, an online tool to help identify and provide access to diverse experts and voices.
This Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy will work towards ensuring a more equal media landscape. The goal is to platform a diversity and a plurality of voices to our national discourse, promote opportunities within the sector and reflect our society in our media.
Steering Committee
A Steering Committee has been established to assist us review the key actions contained in the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and oversee the guidance it provides for the media sector. This Steering Committee will attend three meetings annually. The members will also attend our Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, an annual gathering of stakeholders across the sector to review progress and highlight areas where more work is required.
The members of this Steering Committee are:
- Margaret Ward
- Teresa Hanratty
- Colman Farrell
- Leon Diop
- Eleanor McSherry
- Gareth Lee
- Emer O’ Neill
- Sinéad Crowley (Coimisiún na Meán)
- Gillian Kingston (Coimisiún na Meán)
- Edelle Moss (Coimisiún na Meán)
Funding
Ensuring greater equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the media industry underpins all our work. Through our Sound & Vision funding scheme, new programmes are produced for screen and radio which deliver a greater diversity of voices, stories and perspectives. While they increase the availability and visibility of culturally relevant and Irish-language content for Irish audiences, the schemes also support the enhancement of creativity and innovation and greater sustainability within the broadcasting and independent production sectors.
Sectoral Learning and Development funding and sponsorship supports the running of and access to training, events, seminars and conferences for the media industry.
Standards
A recommendation of the Future of Media Commission is the development of ‘Diversity Standards’ for the Irish media sector. We are currently working on the development of these Standards. Consultations with stakeholders will take place and inform the process. Once developed, it is intended that these Standards be a criterion for specified funding schemes, such as Sound & Vision.
Monitoring and reporting
We are currently working on developing an approach to collecting and reporting on workplace related gender, equality, diversity and inclusion information for the media sector. This is likely to take the form of an annual return from broadcasters which will have both quantitative and qualitative components.
Access Rules
Access Rules set out the standards and obligations required of Irish television broadcasters to increase the understanding and enjoyment of television for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, vision impaired, or hard of hearing.
The Rules also provide for targets that broadcasters must meet each year relating to the percentage of their programming that must have (i) subtitling, (ii) Irish Sign Language, and (iii) audio description facilities.
We now also have broader powers relating to compliance, including the power to receive complaints from members of the public, and where appropriate, investigate potential contraventions of the Access Rules and impose sanctions.
More information
Find out more about equality, diversity & inclusion within our organisation.