Pass the Mic works to improve the representation of women of colour in Scottish news media working with academic, third-sector, media and communications partners –as well as with individual women of colour experts – to map, challenge and change news content and journalistic practices. This programme aims to disseminate and build on the learning from Pass the Mic’s first years in order to support longer-term change. It will do this firstly by gathering data relating to the experiences of women of colour involved in Pass the Mic, and then by sharing this and other existing research with key stakeholders. Through  this  programme,  we  seek  to  expand  the  range  of  key  stakeholders  working  with  Pass the Mic,  retaining  existing collaborations with media partners and complementing this with direct engagement with communications teams who can  play  an  important  gatekeeper  role  in  bringing  research  by  women  of  colour  to  a  wider  audience  (e.g.  through working with research funding bodies, universities, trade unions and third-sector organisations). The events will all be led by women of colour and provide unique opportunities to bring the diverse and dispersed community of women of colour involved in Pass the Mic together for the first time to facilitate networking, skills development and capacity building. Through this programme we also aim to expand the Pass the Mic network, in particular by involving more women of colour academics working in diverse disciplinary contexts across Scotland. Outcomes from the programme will include the development of commissioned commentary and analyses pieces by women of colour to be shared through partnerships with not-for-profit media platforms and third-sector organisations.

Programme Team

Professor Karen Boyle, University of Strathclyde

Professor Kate Sang, Heriot Watt University

Talat Yaqoob, Pass the Mic / First Minister's National Advisory Council on Women and Girls

Professor Toni Haastrup, University of Stirling

Dr Miranda Barty-Taylor, Engender / Gender Equal Media Scotland

Amraine Rasool, BBC Scotland

Assa Samaké-Roman, The National

Final Report

Outputs

Briefing Report: What needs to change – insights for media professionals

 

Articles in the press from the 2023 Writers' Cohort

- The hidden crisis of racial inequality within the cost of living crisis | STV News, 1 Nov 2023

 

Visit the Pass the Mic website for articles from other cohorts