RTÉ had 60 40 ratio of men to women on air in early pandemic response, research finds
almost 4 years in The Irish Times
RTÉ television and radio had a gender ratio of 60 per cent male to 40 per cent female in the initial weeks of its pandemic coverage last year, according to a Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) research project set to be launched today.
The television shows Claire Byrne Live and Ireland on Call came closest to gender parity, with women representing 46 per cent of participants on each programme, the research found.
The report studied all programme participants on a number of RTÉ radio and television programmes between March 1st and May 31st, 2020, with the research conducted by Dr Eileen Culloty and Dr Colm Kearns from Dublin City University, with the co-operation of RTÉ’s diversity and inclusion lead, Dr Zbyszek Zalinski.
Women accounted for 36 per cent of expert commentators, though the researchers noted that production teams were not always free to choose a contributor or spokesperson, for example, in the case of Ministers or the heads of organisations.
The study measured gender diversity across RTÉ Radio 1 programmes Brendan O’Connor, The Business and Today with Claire Byrne, and the RTÉ One television programmes Claire Byrne Live, Ireland on Call and The Late Late Show.
Unique opportunity
“The pandemic presented a unique opportunity to assess RTÉ’s public service role and the position of diversity within that. Our research found that RTÉ, as an organisation, has made significant progress in defining and promoting a strategic vision for diversity and that it is taken seriously by RTÉ decision-makers,” Dr Culloty said.
“However, meaningful progress will take time, commitment and funding, as well as collaboration with communities and campaigners who are developing diversity initiatives.”
Finding appropriate ways to monitor and measure diversity and inclusion also “remains a challenge”, she added.
BAI deputy chief executive Celene Craig, welcoming the research, said diversity, equality and inclusion was one of the broadcasting regulator’s key focus areas and the report would provide valuable insight to help inform policy development.
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