‘We’re leading by example’: Network 10 head on ‘being genuine’ this International Women’s Day
Network Ten is “leading by example” this International Women’s Day with genuine appreciation and encouragement of its female employees – backed up by data.
Boasting an all-female anchor team, majority-female executive editor team, and having the only female political editor across the networks, Rashell Habib, head of digital news and strategy at Paramount ANZ, said Network Ten has a “refreshing” take on the media industry, proudly supporting and encouraging its female employees to take every opportunity their male counterpart would.
“It’s so refreshing and so heartening for the future of the media industry for women,” Habib explained.
“We don’t focus on the fact that we’re women, and we don’t shout it from the rooftops, but we do focus on the different dynamics and points of view that brings to the table.
“I have seen firsthand, from having women in the newsroom, that there is a focus on things that an all-male newsroom wouldn’t focus on,” she continued. “Health issues around women – the fact that endometriosis is finally making headlines, it’s because there are women there telling these stories.
“And the more women telling the stories, the more stories will be heard, the more progress we make.
“We’re leading by example.”
Habib explained that across the country, Network Ten is showing young girls “just how far they can go” in a historically male industry.
For International Women’s Day on Friday, Network Ten will be launching a female mentoring program, where senior female leaders will provide mentoring to young women in the industry. It has also invited some senior female staff to write reflection pieces that will be shared on Friday, and will be screening five short scripted films directed by women from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, the US and Brazil.
Paramount ANZ, Network Ten’s parent company, will also be hosting an international town hall with a global team looking at the impact of gender equity work.
Rashell Habib, Paramount’s head of digital news & strategy
While some may think Network Ten’s showcasing of its female leaders and anchors is tokenistic, Habib stressed that it is not – as it is shown by data.
According to the recently released Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) gender pay gap data, Network Ten’s parent company, Paramount ANZ, had a median base salary pay gap of 7.5%, and a median total remuneration gap of 5.5%. It is far from perfect, but it’s an improvement.
“Recognising that while Ten does still have a gap, our gap was a lot smaller than the rest, and I’m not surprised by that,” Habib said.
“But look at the fact that we’ve decreased our gap – I think it was 9% last year, from memory.”
This was compared to Seven West Media’s gaps of 10.8% for median base salary and 13.8% for median total remuneration, and Nine Entertainment’s 13.4% and 10.1% gaps, respectively.
“It’s such a testament to everyone at Paramount… the figures show that what I’m saying is true, and what we’re doing is not tokenistic at all,” Habib said.
“There is such a benefit in closing the gap and having your female leaders compensated fairly and feeling equal within a workspace. And I think working in a space like that, you feel a lot more safe when you know you’re valued as much as your male colleagues.”
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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