PSBs take the lead in gender-balanced workplaces DetailsJoseph O'Halloran | 08 December 2019 Research from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has shown its public service broadcasters are at the vanguard of gender equality and providing strong role models for women in media.The report, All Things Being Equal was commissioned by the EBU’s Executive Board, under the leadership of BBC Director General Tony Hall. It aims to share best practice from across the industry, drawing on case studies from throughout Europe, the report provides guidelines based on members’ own experience in areas such as equal opportunities; equal pay; work/life balance; protection from sexual harassment and discrimination. It aims to provide the opportunity for media organisations to learn from each other, identifying actionable tips that others can take to drive change.The EBU said that public service media (PSM) organisations have a special responsibility to accurately reflect the experiences of their audiences. Many have made gender equality a top priority which had led to culture change and consequent benefits such as increased innovation, creativity and productivity through the establishment of diverse teams.The study showed that EBU Members employ over 110,000 women between them, 45% of the total PSM workforce and 5% more than the rest of the EU audiovisual sector.Commenting on the findings, the BBC's Hall said: “Gender equality is a big priority for us – individually and collectively. We exist to reflect and represent the communities we serve. It is a vital part of our creative mission to explore a diversity of voices, perspectives and stories – on screen and on air, but also within our teams and our boardrooms.”EBU gender equality steering group chair and Georgia Public Broadcasting deputy director Tinatin Berdzenishvili added: “As the public broadcaster, we should never forget history and the power we have to shape society. I hope this report will inspire others to pursue gender equality, dismantle the stereotypes affecting women and fully unleash the potential in their organisations by building cultures that are inclusive and embrace new and fresh perspectives.”