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New survey for women in Scottish Arts, Culture and Media

Tell us about your experiences of working in the arts, culture and media sectors in Scotland, to help improve women's equality.

Gender Equal Media Scotland has commissioned some new research to help us better understand the barriers facing women working in the Scottish arts, culture and media sectors. A research team at the University of Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University and is investigating obstacles to women’s participation and representation in Scottish media and cultural industries.

If you are a woman working in the Scottish arts or culture sector, or the media, we'd love to hear from you. You can share you thoughts and experiences with us by participating in this survey.

The project aims to hear from as many women as possible across Scotland, to help understand what mechanisms and initiatives have been successful in improving access and representation in the sector and how change might best be achieved. Participation is completely voluntary and participants may opt out at any point. This survey is also anonymous. Data will be collectively analysed, in line with non-disclosive reporting. The survey will close on 20 June, 2021.

Any further questions about this project can be directed to Dr. Sarah Liu (

sarah.liu@ed.ac.uk@DrSarahLiu), or the co-investigators, Dr. Meryl Kenny (M.Kenny@ed.ac.uk@merylkenny) and Dr. Fiona McKay (f.mackay5@rgu.ac.uk@fi_mckay). Thanks in advance for your participation.

#Passthemic - women of colour in stories about Scotland

by Professor Karen Boyle and Melody House at the University of Strathclyde, and Talat Yaqoob founder of Pass the Mic.

Pass the Mic is a project focusing on women of colour in Scottish news media. Initially an online database of women of colour experts, thanks to funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, from 2020-21 the project has expanded to undertake direct work with women of colour experts and media partners STV, The Herald, Sunday National, Daily Record, Scotsman, Courier and Holyrood magazine to challenge exclusionary cultures within news media and create a platform for the expertise of women of colour. This funding has also enabled them to undertake research to establish baseline information about where women of colour currently appear in Scottish news media in partnership with Gender Equal Media Scotland.

Read the previous blogs in the series here:

• Researching women of colour in Scottish news
• A week in Scotland's news
• Where are the women of colour in Scottish news?
• Where was Diwali in Scottish news?

#PasstheMic - Where was Diwali in Scottish news?

by Professor Karen Boyle and Melody House at the University of Strathclyde, and Talat Yaqoob founder of Pass the Mic.

Pass the Mic is a project focusing on women of colour in Scottish news media. Initially an online database of women of colour experts, thanks to funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, from 2020-21 the project has expanded to undertake direct work with women of colour experts and media partners STV, The Herald, Sunday National, Daily Record, Scotsman, Courier and Holyrood magazine to challenge exclusionary cultures within news media and create a platform for the expertise of women of colour. This funding has also enabled them to undertake research to establish baseline information about where women of colour currently appear in Scottish news media in partnership with Gender Equal Media Scotland.

Read the previous blogs in the series here:

• Researching women of colour in Scottish news
• A week in Scotland's news
• Where are the women of colour in Scottish news?

Gender inequality and the Scottish Press Awards

New report asks 'where are the women?' at the Scottish Press Awards

The Scottish Press awards are a key date in the media calendar - it's a chance for journalists and broadcasters to gain recognition for their work, celebrate achievements, and signal to everyone who the names to watch are for the year ahead.

In 2020, only 26% of those shortlisted for an award were women. This statistic becomes even after research found that this is the highest it's ever been. From 2016 to 2020, only two women of colour have ever been shortlisted

Systemic sexism is keeping woman out of the spotlight in the Scottish media, and this new report from Gender Equal Media highlights what needs to happen at the Scottish Press Awards - from practical changes to culture shifts - to challenge the overrepresentation of white men.

Read the report here