We join forces with the BBC to celebrate women in the media this International Women's Day (8 March)

At 1pm you can hear from Blue Peter’s 39th presenter Mwaka Mudenda and Helen Foulkes, Head of BBC Education, overseeing BBC Bitesize, BBC Teach, BBC Food and the BBC’s educational campaigns. 

In 2020, Helen and her team launched BBC Bitesize Daily, the BBC’s biggest ever educational offering with a daily educational show, BBC Bitesize Daily on BBC iPlayer, Red Button and CBBC. This included lessons taught by teachers, a celebrity book club, lessons taught by Sir David Attenborough and Professor Brian Cox and even Danny Dyer teaching history.

Mwaka Mudenda joined Blue Peter, the world’s oldest TV, show last year after working as an assistant producer for BBC Sport from 2018. She is originally from London, but moved to Manchester to study anthropology before joining the BBC. Joining the show during the pandemic meant she made a social distanced entrance, as presenters hosted from their own homes back in May.

They will be delving into how they developed their careers in television, the women who inspired them and the pivotal role BBC Education has played during the pandemic.

Then at 4pm we’re joined by Pam Melbourne, Assistant Editor Major Events at Radio Sport, and Helen Brown, Assistant Editor at BBC Sport, for a special panel session.

Pam is responsible for planning and overseeing events including The Olympics, Football & Rugby World Cup, UEFA Euros and the Commonwealth Games, as well as being the present Golf and Athletics Editor.

Helen is currently the Series Editor of Football Focus.  Previous credits include producing BBC Breakfast and Match of the Day 2 Extra, as well as being Assistant Editor of Sports News. She previously was part of the launch team of Sky Sports F1, where she produced the critically acclaimed documentary The Last Teammate. 

They will be discussing what an average day at BBC Sport looks like (if there is one!), their routes into the industry, plus obstacles they have had to overcome on the way.

Hosting the sessions will be Beth Hewitt (Creative Director, MediaCity Campus) and Lucia Nigri (Director of Conversion) from the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, and we are delighted that Broadcast Journalism student Ellie Kemp will be interviewing the BBC female panelists.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear from top BBC industry professionals as we #ChooseToChallenge on this International Women’s Day 2021. There will also be time during the session for an audience Q&A so have your questions at the ready!

Click here to register (everyone who has signed up via Eventbrite will be emailed a link to join the session):

Nations and Regions: Media Futures in conversation with BBC Children’s (International Women’s Day, Monday 8 March 2021, 1pm-1.40pm)

Nations and Regions: Media Futures in conversation with BBC Sport (International Women’s Day, Monday 8 March 2021, 4pm-4.40pm)