database efforts

Canadian Women in Radio and Television recently hired executive search firm Baker Harris and Partners and contracted Avebury Research to carry out a national survey which will be used to create a comprehensive database of women qualified for management posts. The goal is to teach the organization ‘how to work as a search firm itself,’ says founder and past chair Nancy Smith.

Two years after its inception, the organization is steaming ahead on its programs to assist women in the industry.

‘The focus has been on jobs,’ says Smith, who after two years has passed the baton to Beverley Oda, recently resigned crtc commissioner and new chairperson of the Foundation to Underwrite New Drama for Pay TV. New directors also include Kathy Hamill, publisher of Playback and Strategy, Cathy Huppe of Baton, Liz Janik of Joint Communications, Mary-Colleen Shanahan of Peat Marwick Thorne and Louise Tremblay of Cancom.

Over the past two years, the cwrt has been functioning as a job database, says Smith. The organization also plans to establish a mentor program to provide training and offer opportunities for networking, and is working with Heritage Canada to create a government internship program. It recently established the Jeanne Sauve Award for Women in the Media and announced Jocelyne Cote-O’Hara of Stentor Telecom Policy as Woman of the Year and ytv as Employer of the Year.

According to its annual report, membership revenue increased 232% in the past year.