Women in Travel TV & Video

I don't know if any of you agree with me but I have a real bee in my bonnet about the lack of women presenters of Travel TV programmes & Video. I'm just getting a bit fed up about seeing virtually every TV programme I watch presented by a man. I had a bit of a rant about it on my blog.

http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/where-are-all-the-female-travel-...

I'd love to hear from anyone is working on TV programme ideas that are fronted by women and aimed more at a woman's point of view. Also, I've loads of ideas of my own, so I'd love to connect with someone who'dlike to develop them with me.

Tags: TV, Video, Women, presenters

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kim Mance, Founder of TBEX on February 25, 2009 at 3:45pm

I don't know why I didn't see this until now...off to check out your blog post. No kidding...we think the SAME THING and that's why we started Galavanting TV :). We've just begun being distributed by KoldCast.tv and hope to make it on the network airwaves someday. You'll have to co-host a UK episode later this year!

Permalink Reply by TBEX Admin on February 25, 2009 at 3:49pm

Yes!!! I agree, you are a genius!! SO TRUE!!! All the stuff that Kim said! Exclamation points!!!

Permalink Reply by Christine on February 25, 2009 at 4:04pm

(May I direct you to something I wrote loosely ties into this subject? http://missexpatria.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/note-to-gwyneth-and-cl...)

I think the problem lies in the fact that men can kind of "get away with" just, like, informing the viewer, while women "need" to have a little extra sumpin'-sumpin' in order to be "watchable." (Sorry for quote marks, not sure why I'm feeling them right now.)

Can you imagine a woman who, if it could be scientifically identified, had the exact same creds as Tony Bourdain or Mario Battali - and the exact same level of fashion sense/looks as well - having her own show? Not bloody likely.

Permalink Reply by Kim Mance, Founder of TBEX on February 25, 2009 at 4:12pm

Ha, you totally hit it on the head. I remember reading your post on that and totally head-nodding!!

Permalink Reply by Carrie Williams, Community Manager on February 25, 2009 at 6:55pm

Christine wrote, "I think the problem lies in the fact that men can kind of "get away with" just, like, informing the viewer, while women "need" to have a little extra sumpin'-sumpin' in order to be 'watchable.' " I suppose that might be part of why Bridget Marquardt from Playboy and The Girls Next Door has a new show on the Travel Channel. I know she has a few degrees, and she is pretty intelligent. But I can't help but wonder if some networks would put another woman on live TV and give her a travel show if she had the same qualifications but didn't look like a playmate.

Permalink Reply by Aly & John on March 19, 2009 at 10:06pm

What do you think would be the next step after the playboy bunny presenter? She would only last so long I would think. Would it go toward more bikini-model shows (like two skimply-clad girls instead or one?) or would some producer try to be "different" and go too far to the other extreme? What would everyone here like to see as intelligent, well traveled women? It would be interesting to see what this group's "ideal" woman presenter would be like.( who knows with this market study we could create the ultimate package! :)

Permalink Reply by Ola on December 23, 2009 at 11:55am

Hi Heather, i agree with you 100%. As a black woman I also bemoan the lack of minorities in the travel TV business - male or female, an issue I raised on my blog earlier this year http://diverseconsultancy.typepad.com/olasworld/2009/06/travelling-.... I also have lots of ideas, and would love to connect. Merry Christmas!

Permalink Reply by Julia Dimon on February 18, 2010 at 1:27pm

It's so great to see so many female travel writers interested in TV& Video. My success as a young travel writer gave me just enough to break into the industry. I co-host a show called Word Travels, a 39-episode TV series broadcast internationally on National Geographic Adventure and seen in over 45 countries worldwide. This series follows the real lives of two top travel writers (I’m one of them) as they jet set around the world, under pressure and under deadline.
http://www.traveljunkiejulia.com/

Permalink Reply by Heather Cowper on February 18, 2010 at 2:13pm

you're doing good Julia with your World Travels series. I notice that are more gals breaking in through the video & online route, but if you watch UK TV, they're still few and far in the mainstream. And also I noice that it's unusual to get a TV travel show with a female presenter, without a male presenter also being there - the rough Guide format was an example and I see your show also follows that format. But it's perfectly acceptable to have 2 male presenters doing real boys stuff such as Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman, and I think the balance will be redressed when we see a girls own travel show doing for lipstick around the world what they did for motorbikes!

Permalink Reply by Julia Dimon on February 22, 2010 at 3:03pm

I couldn't agree more!

Permalink Reply by Heather Cowper on March 18, 2010 at 3:27am

Hi Mark
I'm time poor at the moment to help out as an admin but I'll certainly add some of my videos to your group

Permalink Reply by Something Creative Bali on May 20, 2010 at 3:57am

we're not in TV but we're doing our own series of travel videos based on our knowledge of Bali and Indonesia because we grew up there. Two girls and our cameras! our vids are on our youtube channel