From promises to action: a vision for equality in the podcasting world
This week The Podcast Show returned to London for a second year. The Business Design Centre in Islington, London, played host to creators and big business to celebrate the power of audio storytelling. A packed schedule of sessions across multiple stages promised industry insights and creator revelations.
The Magic of Conversations
This year it seemed the true magic unfolded through conversations with friends old and new. While my pre-planned schedule was packed with sessions I intended to be at, more often than not they were swept aside as I got caught up in the bustle of the exhibition area, stopping to speak with exhibitors and meeting people from around the industry.
A particular highlight was the after hours Promo Club event hosted by PodSpike and This Is Distorted. Arielle Nissenblatt joined Becky Lamb, Emily Crosby and Dan Page to drop some podcast promotion pearls of wisdom ahead of networking, pizza and beer.
The Devastating Reality
But amidst the fanfare I felt some unease. Days before the event organisers of The International Women’s Podcast Festival, Content Is Queen, announced they would not be hosting their event this year due to lack of support from the industry. Tucked away in a side-room Founder and CEO of Content Is Queen Imriel Morgan and Head of UKAN Laura Blake shed light on the widening gender pay gap, the struggles faced by those identifying as non-binary, and the hollow nature of diversity promises. For me it was the most important 30 minutes of the event, emphasising the need for action in the audio industry.
Imriel’s passionate presentation left a lasting impact. She shared her fight and failure to secure funding for this year's International Women's Podcast Festival. Her words resonated deeply as she called for action rather than mere pledges from big businesses. She urged the industry to embrace change to avoid stagnation, highlighting the widening gender pay gap and revealed the empty promises of inclusion and diversity made throughout the industry following the pandemic and the death of George Floyd.
A Vision for Equality
There were audible gasps as Head of UKAN Laura Blake revealed the audio industry pay discrepancies between men, women and those identifying as non-binary. The State of the Audio Survey 2023 conducted by UKAN uncovered wide discrepancies in pay between men and women in the industry, and further inequality between white, BIPOC and non-binary salaries.
Laura and Imriel went on to reveal their vision for phase two of the Equality In Audio pact emphasising that meaningful change requires action and that big businesses must prioritize doing rather than saying. While the room was full of supporters, it was disheartening to realise that this impactful session, which addressed these challenges directly, went unnoticed by those who needed to hear it the most. The session ended with a call to action, encouraging the allies and supporters in the room to unite and get behind the #SayLessDoMore campaign, with the hope of prompting action from those who can make the change.
“The time has come not just to pledge but to act. We have to embrace change or face stagnation.”
Imriel Morgan, CEO & Founder, Content Is Queen
It’s evident the industry still has a long way to go in terms of achieving equality and diversity. The widening gender pay gap, the struggles faced by non-binary individuals, and the emptiness of diversity promises, reveals a dire need for tangible change.
It’s time for industry leaders to make a difference and make podcasting a vibrant and inclusive industry where everyone can thrive.
