British broadcasters and production companies will support Women in Football’s campaign on International Women’s Day, Saturday 8 March.
The group will broadcast and post content online to recognise and celebrate the work of women in the industry all year round.
Organisations taking part include ITV, Channel 4, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Premier League Productions, and TalkSPORT. The group will also tackle online abuse.
“This is a moment when women working in football need to be reminded of their value and merit. It goes without saying that as a trusted colleague and partner of Women in Football (WIF), you value their contribution to your organisation and to the wider game. But this is perhaps also a time when the game’s leaders should think about reiterating this message, not least among their own staff.”
The above excerpt from a letter by Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison, sent to a combination of major football stakeholders and broadcasters in January 2024, kickstarted the creation of a new working group which would tackle gender inequality in football media head on.
One of the catalysts for the initial meeting in April 2024 was the growth in online abuse directed at female football pundits. Those targeted directly by this hate were not the only ones affected.
Many other women working in the industry, including members of the 10,500-strong Women in Football membership community, also flagged that they had been negatively impacted.
This trend and the language used were referenced by the then Sports Minister Stuart Andrew MP in the House of Commons as “dangerous” after Women in Football wrote to him at the start of 2024, and to Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee.
The cross-broadcaster working group has initially focused on three core objectives:
• to improve access and opportunity in the football industry
• to normalise women working in the industry and celebrate positive trends.
• to tackle growing issues impacting women working in the industry.
Underlining the importance of such a diverse group of stakeholders working together, Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison, who chairs the group, said: “We are doing something never done before. These broadcasters have come together and continued to find new ways to show support for women in the industry. I am incredibly proud of the leadership we have shown to convene this incredible group, and I cannot thank them enough for their support.”
The group are currently developing a strategy for how the industry can respond as one voice in the event of future social media abuse targeting one of its female contingent.
Together with additional Women in Football industry partners, the group will also unite around International Women’s Day on 8 March. By developing and sharing a range of content that showcases women working in the game alongside its stars and fans with the unifying hashtag
#TodayAndEveryDay – a reprise of Women in Football’s 2024’s theme – individual organisations will showcase the huge variety of roles performed by women in the sport all year round.
On 26 March at Wembley Stadium, Women in Football’s flagship Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays will also feature a broadcaster panel discussion to continue the conversation and address future actions.
Looking ahead, Women in Football Chair Ebru Köksal said: “Women in Football is seen as a credible, representative voice for women working in the industry, and we want to ensure that we continue to be approached for input as different conversations evolve.
“Collaborating with multiple partners, we will not only benefit women working in football, but women in sport more broadly. As our #TodayAndEveryDay message so perfectly summarised: You may not always see us. But we’re there. We always were, and we always will be.”
Channel 4 Head of Sport Pete Andrews said: “Channel 4 supports the Women in Football initiative to create opportunities, parity and inclusion for the incredibly talented women already working in, or seeking to have opportunities within football, and wider within sport. Channel 4 consistently works with female presenters, pundits and commentators across all of our sports output, and we value the opportunity to work with other broadcasters to continue to drive change.”
Sarah Nurse, ITV Sport Editor, said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporters of Women in Football here at ITV. Women play a vital role behind the scenes and in front of the camera across all of our sporting coverage. ITV is the home of the Lionesses and in a year where we will broadcast the UEFA Women’s Euros free-to-air, ITV will continue to highlight women’s sporting achievements and offer extensive coverage of the women’s game for the nation and beyond.”
Scott Young, Group SVP of Production, Content and Operations WBD Sports Europe, said: “As a sport broadcaster and an employer we are responsible for supporting and championing women in football whether that is on the field, on screen or within the broadcast industry. We are extremely proud to be working together with the broadcast and football industry to reinforce the message that women are very welcome and to celebrate everything that they bring to football on International Women’s Day.”
Steve Smith, Executive Director of Content at Sky Sports, said: “Football should be a space where talent thrives, regardless of gender. At Sky Sports, we’re committed to amplifying the voices of women in the industry and driving meaningful change. Partnering with Women in Football and working alongside other broadcasters allows us to take collective action to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and respectful football community – one where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
