SVG Europe Women: Tech skills shortage presents major challenge for broadcasters By Fergal Ringrose, Editorial Director, Europe
Monday, February 10, 2020 - 17:12
Print This Story
Maybe broadcast engineering was never that fashionable as a career option, but it definitely isn't sexy these days. In an age of blogging and selfies, the technical crew behind every TV production appear to school leavers to be firmly out of sight and out of mind.
School leavers are not interested - especially girls. It's an enormously challenging situation for everyone inside the broadcast industry and those educators seeking to train young people for technology-based careers in this business.
At the SVG Europe Women Winter Networking Event, in partnership with BT Sport and Timeline Television, on 30 January 2020, host Sarra Elgan and a panel of engineers and educators debated what needs to be done to bring more women into both engineering careers within sports broadcasting and to develop the educational tracks to get them there. The discussion looked at how to get more women into STEM roles, the disparity between that desire and the educational prerequisites that deter or prevent women from going in that direction, and the value of learning on the job.
The speakers on the engineering side were Roisin McKeniry, Timeline TV, head of production technology; Sandy Isnard, Telstra Broadcast Services, solutions architect; and Carys Hughes, Sky, design engineer, emerging technologies.
The educator speakers to the right of Sarra Elgan on the BT Sport sofa were Polly Hickling, Solent/University of Southampton, Media Technology Programme course leader; Susan Pratt, University of Surrey, Department of Music and Media, Film and Video Production Technology, course leader; and Dr Ajaz Ali, Ravensbourne, Digital Television Technology and Degree Apprenticeships, course director. Elgan began by asking the educators to tell the audience what is the current situation with regard to intake of female students to media technology courses.
Susan Pratt: The question is, how can we actually get more young people interested in the technical side of television? They all know about people in front of the screen and they all know about social media presentation. So they've got some idea of what that is; it's something tangible they can see.
But they don't see what's going on behind the scenes - it's not real to them, it's not a profession. So when they're looking through a prospectus and they see media studies they think oh that's the person in front of the screen, so that's about communication'.
This is where there's a mismatch. If we can get people to understand what a great, exciting career there is behind the scenes, then we can inspire more people to do the maths, physics, other sciences and IT to actually become part of this industry. An engineering degree has to have those elements to it, in order to be accredited by the IET.
Ajaz Ali: Yes I fully agree that you have to reach certain benchmarks. But for broadcast engineering specifically, I don't think there is a shortage of women - there is a complete shortage.
That is because students normally go for the more glamorous side, which is what they see in front of the screen. Behind the screen is never shown to them; they don't even know there is a career there. So education is key, in reaching out to people - not just women and telling them Yes there is a career in broadcast engineering'.
Left to right: Roisin McKeniry, Timeline TV; Sandy Isnard, Telstra; Carys Hughes, Sky; Sarra Elgan, BT Sport; Polly Hickling, Solent/University of Southampton; Susan Pratt, University of Surrey; and Dr Ajaz Ali, Ravensbourne
We really struggle to recruit students overall. The ultimate route then I think is through apprenticeships, where the employer actually chooses who they want to recruit, rather than leaving it to the universities to decide. The employer takes them on board and sends them to university to meet those benchmark criteria. And then we train them on those elements.
It has worked really well. We've worked with BT and a few of the apprenticeship providers. In one class we've got a 50:50 ratio. So the broadcasters are going out and supporting them, rather than leaving it to the educational institutions. But our responsibility is to benchmark and reach certain criteria - that is very important.
Roisin McKeniry: We have a massive skills shortage. We need people to come out of university - or not to go to university - and we need them to have a certain skillset. Nobody comes out of university able to do a job. They think they can but they can't!
My question to the educators is, do we need to have different courses? Do we need to change the titles of those courses? I need people. You guys are giving me people, but you're giving me just this small section of society.
What we do is problem solve. And one life experience is not going to give us a diverse approach to problem-solving. Whatever you decide to call it, I don't care. I just need people.
Polly Hicking: The amount of people we have is really low. Even though we don't set [tough] prerequisites, we can't get people in. I just don't think people know what we do. I don't think anybody at 18, applying to university, understands what a vision engineer is.
We want people who can become engineers, who can understand IT and build systems like the one here at BT Sport. We've just redesigned and retitled our courses to try to get more people in. We need people to understand what people [in technical roles] are doing. That will make a difference.
Carys Hughes: It's true. Nobody understands what we do. They don't like the sound of it, or they just have no idea we exist. And I agree, that's why
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
SVG Europe Women: Tech skills shortage presents major challenge for broadcasters By Fergal Ringrose, Editorial Director, Europe 
