How the 50:50 project promotes gender equality

The BBC’s 50:50 Equality Project began in 2017 – a grassroots initiative which commencing at a single BBC news unit - news department – Outside Source. The brainchild of one of its presenters, to examine gender diversity within the workplace. 

It grew through word of mouth, with other teams adopting the 50:50 approach until the then Director General, Tim Hall heard about it and gave the go-ahead for it to be rolled out nationally as an official project. 

Many departments assumed that they were doing okay but as Lara Joannides, Creative Diversity Lead for 50:50 project at says, “even if you think you are doing well, you probably aren’t and so you just have to keep on top of it”.

The 50:50 project initially focused on gender equality within content production, aiming for gender equal balance. And in-line with the BBC’s target 50:20:12 strategy, the project has now expanded to include ethnicity and disability monitoring. BBC Director General Tim Davie has stated that as the UK becomes more diverse, its workforce must reflect the communities it serves.