Women are disproportionately the experts in the room. We are more likely to have a degree and to work in a high-status profession. But when we analyse the use of subject matter experts, women are still outnumbered 4-1 in conferences and up to 5-1 in the media. Not hearing from expert female and diverse leaders means we’re only getting half the story, which means we face the consequences of huge gaps in information, representation and policy.

The Gender News Gap is based on a major exploration of gender inequality in UK journalism and media. The gender imbalance in media has a significant impact on business, editorial and content decisions, influencing which stories are told and who tells them. The report, commissioned by Man Bites Dog and Women in Journalism, examines the opinions of 1,200 UK journalists1 on gender diversity in journalism and its impact on female journalists, the media and society more broadly.

At this event we will delve into the report findings and examine the challenges of career progression for women, the lack of action on gender diversity in the media, the compounding effect of Covid-19 and the impact of the Gender News Gap on female representation and the use of female subject matter experts.

As PR and communications experts we can really make a difference; we can use our influence to unleash a more diverse selection of thinkers and spokespeople to champion brands and corporates alike, to ensure greater gender balance and diversity in those we elevate as thought leaders.

Here is a link to the Gender News Gap page where you can download the report: https://www.manbitesdog.com/the-gender-news-gap/

Host

• Claire Mason, CEO and Founder of global thought leadership consultancy Man Bites Dog. Claire and her team specialise in developing future thinking for intelligent brands to position them as leaders in the next economy

Panel

• Anna Geffert – Founder of HERA and President of Women in PR. HERA is a corporate and financial communications consultancy specialising in stakeholder engagement and research

• Polly Curtis – Newsroom leader and media strategist. Previously digital editor at The Guardian, editor-in-chief at HuffPost UK and editor and partner at Tortoise Media.

• Alessandra Almeida Jones, Director of Global Marketing and Engagement, Baker McKenzie. Alessandra is an experienced professional services marketer with a proven track-record in building corporate profile and driving client demand through an innovative approach to marketing, communications and engagement initiatives. A passionate diversity and inclusion advocate, she is an advisory board member at the Black Business Institute, a BAME mentor and active participant in a number of women networks. Currently Director of Marketing and Engagement at Baker McKenzie and a Further Education Governor, Alessandra has held senior positions at organisations such as Linklaters, KWM and ABN AMRO.

Timings

• Panel kick off 6.45pm
• Q&A 7.30pm
• End 7.45pm
• Networking 7.45 to 21.00

Tickets

• £8 members and £12 for non members