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EARLIER THIS WEEK, Newstalk announced that Ivan Yates would be taking over their drivetime slot from September 4th. Newstalk Drive is currently hosted by Sarah McInerney and Chris Donoghue.
In a statement, the station stated that they were in discussion with McInerney and Donoghue about alternative roles within the Communicorp Group.
As things now stand, there are no women featured on Newstalk’s weekday schedule, which has prompted outcry over the lack of on-air gender balance at the station.
But how do other national and Dublin stations fare by comparison? Is the picture as grim elsewhere? Let’s take a look. (Note: we are only evaluating each station’s weekday schedule.)
RTÉ Radio 1
7am – 9am: Morning Ireland (Rachel English and Audrey Carville)
9am – 10am: Ryan Tubridy
10am – 12pm: Sean O’Rourke
12pm- – 1pm: Ronan Collins
1pm – 1.45pm: News At One (Áine Lawlor)
1.45pm – 3pm: Liveline
3pm – 4.30pm: Ray D’arcy
4.30pm – 7pm: Drivetime with Mary Wilson
Total women: 4
Three out of the eight daytime shows are either hosted or co-hosted by women. It’s also worth noting that Radio 1 boasts significant female representation on the weekend schedule with Miriam O’Callaghan, Claire Byrne, Marian Finucane, Joanne Cantwell and Jacqui Hurley all fronting shows.
2fm has a very balanced daytime lineup and it’s worth noting that Louise McSharry and Ciara King also both host shows outside the 7am – 7pm schedule as well.
Today FM
7am – 9am: Ian Dempsey
9am – 12pm: Dermot & Dave
12pm – 2.30pm: Al Porter
2.30pm – 4.30pm: Off The Charts with Fergal D’Arcy
4.30pm – 7pm: The Last Word with Matt Cooper
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Total women: 0
The picture is more grim at Today FM where female broadcasters like Louise Duffy, Alison Curtis, Paula McSweeney, Muireann O’Connell, Kelly Ann Byrne and Nadine O’Regan all relegated to either early morning, evening or weekend slots.
Newstalk
7am – 9am: Newstalk Breakfast
9am – 12pm: The Pat Kenny Show
12pm – 2pm: High Noon with George Hook
2pm – 4pm: Moncrieff
4pm – 7pm: Newstalk Drive with Ivan Yates
Total women: 0
Much like Today FM, Newstalk has no women on its weekday schedule as things stand. Women like Sarah Carey, Orla Barry, Dr. Ciara Kelly, Susan Cahill and Dil Wickremasinghe all have shows on the weekends.
Spin 1038
7am – 10am: Fully Charged
10am – 1pm: Spin Hits with Peter
1pm – 3pm: Spin Talk with Lauren Kelly
3pm – 7pm: Spin Hits with Steve K
Total women: 1
98FM
6am – 10pm: 98FM’s Big Breakfast
10pm – 12pm: Dublin Talks with Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon
12pm – 4pm: Dublin’s Best Music Mix with Barry Dunne
4pm – 7pm: The Big Ride Home with Dara Quilty
Total women: 0
FM104
6am – 10am: Strawberry Alarm Clock
10am – 3pm: The 10-3 Show with Andy Preston
3pm – 7pm: The Jam with Ben Murray
Total women: 0
Conclusion? RTÉ is almost certainly leading the way when it comes to gender balance on air, but rival stations are severely lagging behind.
Do better, lads. Women’s voices aren’t so scary. We promise.
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Monday 23 December, 2024
Monday 23 December, 2024
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How do Ireland's radio stations fare when it comes to gender balance? We took a look
EARLIER THIS WEEK, Newstalk announced that Ivan Yates would be taking over their drivetime slot from September 4th. Newstalk Drive is currently hosted by Sarah McInerney and Chris Donoghue.
In a statement, the station stated that they were in discussion with McInerney and Donoghue about alternative roles within the Communicorp Group.
As things now stand, there are no women featured on Newstalk’s weekday schedule, which has prompted outcry over the lack of on-air gender balance at the station.
But how do other national and Dublin stations fare by comparison? Is the picture as grim elsewhere? Let’s take a look. (Note: we are only evaluating each station’s weekday schedule.)
RTÉ Radio 1
Total women: 4
Three out of the eight daytime shows are either hosted or co-hosted by women. It’s also worth noting that Radio 1 boasts significant female representation on the weekend schedule with Miriam O’Callaghan, Claire Byrne, Marian Finucane, Joanne Cantwell and Jacqui Hurley all fronting shows.
2fm
Total women: 4
2fm has a very balanced daytime lineup and it’s worth noting that Louise McSharry and Ciara King also both host shows outside the 7am – 7pm schedule as well.
Today FM
Total women: 0
The picture is more grim at Today FM where female broadcasters like Louise Duffy, Alison Curtis, Paula McSweeney, Muireann O’Connell, Kelly Ann Byrne and Nadine O’Regan all relegated to either early morning, evening or weekend slots.
Newstalk
Total women: 0
Much like Today FM, Newstalk has no women on its weekday schedule as things stand. Women like Sarah Carey, Orla Barry, Dr. Ciara Kelly, Susan Cahill and Dil Wickremasinghe all have shows on the weekends.
Spin 1038
Total women: 1
98FM
Total women: 0
FM104
Total women: 0
Conclusion? RTÉ is almost certainly leading the way when it comes to gender balance on air, but rival stations are severely lagging behind.
Do better, lads. Women’s voices aren’t so scary. We promise.
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