ABC cadetships mark International Women’s Day

ABC has announced a new cadetship scheme encouraging women to enter the film and television industry as part of its support for International Women’s Day and the #PressforProgress campaign.

The 12-month Your Time cadetships are aimed at women who want to develop screen skills, especially in the fields of camera, sound, directing and other craft skills roles where women are historically under-represented.

The ABC will also promote International Women’s Day across its platforms with specialist programming and guest presenters, highlighting the contribution of broadcasters, program makers and women behind-the-scenes throughout the organisation. ABC programs across television and radio will be presented by all-women line-ups.

ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie said, “While women are equally represented across the ABC Board and in our leadership positions, International Women’s Day affords us the opportunity to focus attention on the work still to be done.

“We lead the industry in our representation of women in presenter roles on many of our programs and we work hard to ensure our audiences hear these voices every day.

“But there is still more work to be done so that our content reflects the Australian population, so women are equally represented in the stories we tell, the experts we interview and the comedians who make us laugh. We also play an important role in ensuring Australian children grow up watching programs where girls are equally represented in all types of roles.

“The Your Time cadetships demonstrate the commitment of the ABC and Screen Australia to ensuring women get more opportunities.”

ABC TV
A series of videos celebrating women behind-the-scenes in film and TV, including cinematographer Bonnie Elliott, composer Caitlin Yeo, editor Dany Cooper and documentary director Jen Peedom.

Videos will be uploaded to ABC TV social media channels and iview on IWD.

ABC Audio Studios in collaboration with ABC made + News Digital

Fierce Girls podcast series. In a world where girls are fed a diet of princesses, unicorns and YouTube stars, Fierce Girls tells the real-life inspirational stories of brave, adventurous, and strong girls and women. Like Nancy Wake, the WWII spy and Louise Sauvage, the champion wheelchair athlete. Cathy Freeman, who ran like the wind and Nancy Bird-Walton, who flew the skies. Fierce Girls tells the stories of incredible Australian women read by well-known women like surfer Stephanie Gilmore, actor Justine Clarke, journalists Leigh Sales and Lisa Wilkinson and the fiercest of the fierce, Turia Pitt.

ABC Radio and iview
All-Star Debate for International Women’s Day: That Bold is The New Beautiful. Hosted by ABC Radio’s Libbi Gorr and featuring Jean Kittson, Demi Lardner, Frida De Guise, Elizabeth Chong, Virginia Trioli and Gina Liano. The Debate airs on ABC Radio (VIC, TAS, SA, NT at 7.05pm + NSW, QLD, WA at 10.05pm) and RN (8.05pm) and on iview from 8pm. Thursday 8 March.

ABC News TV and radio channels majority women line-up
An all or majority women line-up presenting all key news and current programs on the day and across Cap City Networks, RN and Radio Australia (including Pacific Beat and Wantok programs). Classic FM will feature 24 hours of all women composers and an all women line-up.

Regional
Special coverage including live outside broadcasts asking women on the land to share an image which depicts a moment in their day.

Grandstand
Women’s Rugby player and Jillaroo, Ruan Sims is special guest co-commentator with Andrew Moore for the NRL Season opener. Sonia Lewis (wife of NRL star Luke Lewis) is sideline commentator. Thursday 8 March.

ABC KIDS iview will host a Go Girls Go collection including Dot, Get Grubby, Justine Clarke, Peg + Cat, Peppa Pig

ABC ME will host an International Women’s Day collection including Advice to My 12-Year-Old Self, Girls Change the World – The Activism Film, Get My Job and My Life – What’s A Girl

ABC Education programming block will screen Girls Change the World – The Activism Film and International Student Stories

iview: the IWD collection will include One Plus One, Australian Story, Women’s Work and Pop-Ability

ABC Comedy
On The Tonightly, Tom Ballard steps aside for the day and Greta Lee-Jackson and Bridie Connell will be taking over the reins. Thursday 8 March 9pm, ABC Comedy.