Media Parents

You have such a great selection of jobs and I've really enjoyed the Media Parents networking and information events.

Susan Drummond, freelancer

From a mum who has been out of TV for 10 years: Well there you go, you have succeeded in getting me a job. I start next week at the BBC doing two days a week and half a day at home, casting for Lorraine Pascal's new show. They have been really flexible about it. Can't quite believe it!

Harriet, Producer

The most efficient and productive way to meet the region's best talent.

Jamie Balmont, Head of Development, Indus Films

Can you upgrade us to your premium account? Keen to search your database. Everyone says you now have the best people!

Philip, Wildfire Television Ltd

Some great CVs came through. Will definitely use the site in future as and when we need more crew.

Debbie Elliott, Flame TV

Just to let you know the very day I signed up to Mediaparents (last Monday) I spotted an SP's job advertised on the third page of new jobs - hadn't seen it anywhere else. Dropped the company (Oxford Scientific) a line, had an interview on that Wednesday, was given the gig on Friday morning. Mind you that means I've still got another 11 1/2 months of subscription left but I think I'll stay on- it's obviously the place to find the jobs that other sites don't get.

Michael Douglas

We have recruited an Edit Producer through Media Parents and she will start with us on Monday. Thank you so much for introducing yourselves - the standard of the people on your books is great.

Maverick TV, Cardiff

there are some brilliant applicants for the job i posted with you.

Stephen Taylor Woodrow, SP

We've had a really good response and our Series Producer is going to meet two of your Edit Producers

Production Manager, Maverick

After a very successful production run for our Eva Cassidy - Timeless Voice music documentary which has been airing for the last 2 months on Sky Arts 1, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the help, guidance and support from Media Parents in helping Positive Television to recruit the most brilliant Producer and part-time Production Manager. We simply couldn't have achieved the level of quality that we did on such a fast turnaround in far flung locations like Hawaii and the USA.

Attracta McLaughlin, Positive Television

I have interviewed a few of your applicants and offered jobs to two of them.

Exec Producer, Objective Productions

I wanted to say thank you so much for your help on the production accountant role - we made the decision on Friday to hire someone who applied via you guys! So well done and thank you - another successful job found for one of your members! She was thrilled to bits when we rang last night to let her know as its a staff position with room for growth (a rarity in this day and age!)

Clare Barton, OlgaTV

Media Parents sent some great people through for my last gig in Newcastle! Really impressed with the people you have!

Victoria Roye, Manchester

Can I just say how brilliant it is that you guys are around? I don't want to work just yet as my kids are small and I want to take a couple of years to be with them and freelance w my ex prod Company so have work. However, I will go back and it is nice to know Media Parents are there.

Vanessa Bolton

I run Eastcoast Pictures based on the east coast - Grimsby and also York. I met up with my Producer in York, Jane, through Media Parents
(thank you !)

Julia, Eastcoast Pictures

By the way, thought the interview you featured in was great, having never met you my first impression was that you are very genuine, articulate and grounded...well done - I'm sure that's given many women a new found confidence and hope!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201444316928958

Tessa Adrian

Thanks for doing a great job btw. You kicked ass on TV the other day.

Einav, Editor

I think I just got my first job through you! The Fresh One job!!

many thanks!

Claire Seeber, PD

Mediaparents has come up trumps and delivered a great SP with oodles of wilderness experience, who is available for the dates and really pumped about the project. Thank you!

Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd

Thanks for a great event last week. I enjoyed it and found it very useful.

Jonathan Allan, PD

Thanks for organising the technical event last week. It was really useful. It was a pity not to be longer as it would have been good to do more camera work, but also not to rush through the media management either. I got a lot from it though and will definitely attend another.

Natalie, PD

thanks very much for organising the technical event it was very useful, wish I could have stayed a bit longer.

Jackie Chivers, PM

It was great, really interesting tech catch up session. Thanks for organising.

Maggie Kelly, Series Producer

Thanks for organising the tech catch up, I found it really enjoyable and useful!

Michelle Martin, (Pr)Editor

Many thanks for a superb event. I am looking forward to the next one.

Amanny Mohamed, AP

Thanks again for the great event, so far I'm very much enjoying being a part of Media Parents!

Jodie Gravett, AP

Really enjoyed the Thursdsay morning- great to have such a succinct update on everything.

Sally Weale, Shooting Series Producer

Thanks for a great technical catch up session - it was really informative and useful so thank you for organising.

Romy Page, Series Producer

Thanks a huge deal for organising this very useful networking event.

Shona Charlton, Director

It was a very useful exercise, I thought. I was impressed by Pro Motion, their presentation was very concise and illuminated lots of little details I'd never got round to working out for myself.
Very gratifying to realise other people have a morbid fear of data transfer.....

John, Entertainment Producer

Thanks for a great event Amy. Matt and I were such geeks they had to ask us to leave or we would have stayed all day.

Kasia, PD

Hi! Just to let you know I found today’s event tremendously helpful - at least now I can sound knowledgeable in interviews if kit is discussed - and know what I’m likely to be able to self-shoot on, and what I’m not! Always good to meet people too.

Susan, PD

Thanks for today, it was very informative and much fun!

Jess Goodman, PM

Thank you very much for organising such a great event and I feel lucky that Jessica invited me as had not heard of Media parents before and think it is a great idea. Hope to see you soon again.

Anna Melin, PM October Films

Just wanted to let you know that I found work through Media Parents in a roundabout way. I saw a job advertised on the site with Two Four (Senior Producer - Digital). I looked them up and realised an old work contact of mine was Creative Director there, sent him my CV and now I'm freelancing on a project.
So, thank you!
Emma

Emma Hill, Digital Producer

Thanks for today Amy, it was a really useful event.

Susie Dark, Head of Production, Outline

Absolutely cracking event today. Brilliantly informative and meeting down-to-earth, like-minded people was a bonus too! More great events like these please!

Amanny, AP

Just wanted to say a big thank you for organising a great event. Really informative and relaxed - I got a lot out of it!

Kelly, Head of Production

Many thanks for everything!! I have and interview next week and a one day job in Seville!!

Raul, Editor

We had some very good CVs come through... the quality of the responses from Media Parents was very high and I have advised the PM to be in touch with you for the next round of hirings.

Ned, World Media Rights

I've only been looking at the website for a week or so, but its amazing what it's done for my confidence, and I know its been said before, but reading other people's experiences really is not only interesting but its pretty motivational!

Jodie, AP / mum back to work

I've just today got a second job at Nutopia. First one through you guys so keep up the good work. Love the ruby wax promo!

Sabine, PD, Edit Producer, Editor

Your site is more user friendly and nice and straight forward than PB or Talent Manager. I will definitely come back in a few months when I'm out of work again!

Olivia, AP / Researcher

Thank you very much! That was very useful feedback on my CV.

Deborah, AP / mum back to work

I recently shot and directed a series for Channel Five, Botched Up Bodies, tx date Mon 14th Jan at 10pm (after Celebrity Big Brother):

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/tntqr/botched-up-bodies--series-1---episode-1

I got the job indirectly through Media Parents. I was recommended by someone I worked with previously, through Media Parents. So thank you!

Ana, Director

Just wanted to say thanks for your excellent site. I just landed a 16 week contract at Fever Media and during January thats a real touch.

Steven, PD

Lovely meeting you on Thursday.

I enjoyed the Christmas party...the only problem was, everyone I spoke to was so interesting that conversations went on and on and therefore I didn't get to chat to loads of people!

I'm just listening to Vanessa Feltz show on BBC London 94.4 re: stay at home mums. I have just emailed the programme to big up Media Parents for promoting solutions to the ever present working parents dilemma.

I hope they read it on air.

Karen, Costume Designer

You've got the best TV jobs site... and it's proving a useful way of keeping in touch with what's going on.

Martyn Smith, Series Producer

I just wanted to let you know.. I'm working at True North in Leeds at the moment as a development producer....(a very positive outcome from the networking event Media Parents held at Media City, Salford)

Christina Wilby, PD

I've had quite a few responses - and have now met 3 in person. Great people.

Justine Potter, Savvy Productions

great event; so pleased it all happened.

Daniell Morrisey, Talent Executive, BBC Children's

I just wanted to say a huge thanks for inviting me to the Media Parents network evening at Media City and for all your hard work in organising the event. Prior to having my daughter I worked in London for 10 years so it was great to be able to make new contacts in Manchester and I hope work will come from it soon.

Thank you again and for supporting parents in TV, seems not everyone working in telly is childless!

Anna Burns, Edit Producer

I just wanted to let you know that we have hired somebody from Media Parents for the Producer/Director role on a BBC project we are doing.
Thanks for all your help with this.

Allison Dore, Head of Production, Somethin' Else

Re : Manchester Networking on Nov 13th

Thanks for this, what a great initiative, as a parent myself I'm looking forward to it!

Best wishes,

Amy

Amy Buscombe Head of Development LA Productions

Thanks very much for the ad that we had with you recently, a successful hire has been made via Media Parents!

Sue Kenderdine, TwoFour

We've just been working with an Edit Producer who we found through you and was lovely - so thank you!

Nikki Tilly, Pioneer Television

Just to let you know I had 3 interviews yesterday, one was via Media
parents in Development.

Loretta Farrell

All has gone very well. I have employed Lesley Duncanson as a Producer and Gail Morrison as a part time PM.
Thanks so much for your help. All very successful.

Attracta, Positive Television

Just wanted to let you know I got a job through Media Parents - two months in the States, brilliant.

Michelle, PD

I've been on Media Parents site for ten days as a mum getting back into work and I've had two interviews and been offered a short term gig! I am loving the blog and all the CV tips - thanks, what a great service!

Loretta, PD

I have had friends to get jobs through you so I am sure I will like the site.

Karen, PD

The successful candidate wasn't a Media Parents person this time – which is unusual!

Ruth Stevenson HR - Fever Media

Thanks for the advice about the CV! Great advice.

Aaron Witchard, Shooting AP

I've got my second series producing job through Media Parents now - thank you!

Alison Kreps, SP

I got work through Media Parents.
Supersize vs Superskinny with Remarkable in Birmingham.
Thanks very much!

Also a couple of people mentioned that they'd read my blog which was good to know.

Jelena, PD

I wanted to say what a great time I had at the Media Parents Summer Party meeting old friends and new - thank you! I've found work through Media Parents too!

Ginita, AP

I've just got an interview thanks to you!

Sarah, PM

I've just joined your brilliant site!

Dylan, PD

It was great to meet you at the Media Parents Birthday Party - a wonderful evening and thanks again for the invite. It was very relaxed and a great mix of people.

Thank you for introducing me to Matt and Chris and all the fantastic advice you offered. I'm going to sort out my profile and stick a picture of myself up.

Hope you had a lovely birthday and will have a good weekend.

Naike, Researcher / AP

I've ticked the box to say I've had work through Media Parents - yeah!

Leo Carlyon, Editor

I've got an edit producing job that was on Media Parents!

Robin Toyne

I've got work from September to January in Birmingham thanks to Media Parents!

Tessa O'Neill

I have found an amazing Edit Producer through Media Parents, so we'll definitely give you a shout when we have any suitable jobs to post in future.

Zoe, Exec Producer

I've had flexible editing work through Media Parents!

Alison Muldoon

Being a Dad is great. I'm currently a PD on Escape to the Country for Boundless Productions. They found my profile on Media Parents and approached me, so I'm more than happy to write something positive. This is my second job through MP! I've been living in Norwich for a while (I got a Development job at Anglia Factual last year, just after becoming a Dad)...

Anthony Holland, PD

I just wanted to say how useful and enjoyable the Endemol Meets Media Parents Evening was. I've not been to one before, but am a fan now. Thanks once more.

Karen Brown, Exec Producer

I feel like it was a great decision to join media parents.

The applications I have sent out have had some replies, though no actual work came out of them. It helped me repackage some of my reel to suit the specific job requirements, so I feel like I have more at my disposal for future postings, which is nice (a reel of only industrial work was requested, for example). Overall that has made my job search at least feel more productive, since frequently I don't get a reply for many applications.

Thanks for running a great service. It's given me some confidence that there is more and better work out there for me than the majority of measly projects I have done from home lately.

Thorsten Gritschke, Editor

I've just found work through Media Parents - thank you!

Rowena Lowell, PM / Unit Manager

Thank you, I've got a job in Scotland through Media Parents!

Production Manager

Just wanted to say thank you for last night. It was really enjoyable evening with lot of useful tools to have and approach to think about. I did enjoy our chat and it gave me great tools to start moving forward. Interesting is how some things are so obvious and right there but you just don't see them until someone else points them out, which happened to me last night.

Really appreciate what you trying to do with Media Parents.

Many thanks and see you again on next event.

Monika

Nice to see you again yesterday even though I arrived late (thank you very much Victoria Line). Found Reuben's sessions very practical and
will get to work at pinning myself down to a brand - not easy though!

Thank you also for the November day at BBC White City regarding returning to work after a break - there were some great speakers there
and it really made me think in particular about all the different
opportunities that new media presents. It was especially good to see
and hear the generosity of so many speakers in their feedback and
sessions.

Rocio

Thank you for a wonderful Christmas party at Bafta. Look forward to attending more Media Parents Events in 2012.

Tom Murphy

Thanks so much Amy... I am back at Mentorn next week - another gig that started with a Media Parents connection!

Susan Crook, SP

Thanks for posting the SP job on Media Parents, I had a great response. I have now offered it to someone from Media Parents whom I had met in the past...

Viv McGrath, Redback Films

Just wanted to thank you so much for a great event last night (as always!)
Nina was really helpful and pointed out that some of my best skills and selling points were not spelled out on my CV.
She also suggested a number of companies she felt I should certainly contact and I have not contacted any of them before.
Steve was really really lovely and was very kind and very encouraging which gave me a big confidence boost.

Elaine, PD

Just wanted to let you know we employed Sasha Brogden for our edit producer gig, so thank you!

Chloe S-S, Endemol

Just a quick one, I just checked, The Bank Job pilot I'm EP'ing in Dec for Endemol was through your website - also I think I got an EP job on Dirty Sexy Things (Pout) at betty through Media Parents. There have been others but I can't remember!

Anyway, the website is fab - keep up the great work!

Sasha, Edit Producer

In all honesty Media Parents is the only site I recommend and I do so regularly. It has been nothing but excellent!

Gareth Sacala, AP

I am a new subscriber - just thinking about going back to work post-baby and really feeling rather nervous about the whole thing.

Anyway I wanted to let you know how fantastic I think it is that you've set up this website. Just the fact that there's a resource aimed at people in exactly my position makes me feel so much more confident and positive about the chances of finding work - and less lonely!!!

Rebecca

It was lovely to see you last night at the Media Parents CV Tear-Up in Brighton last night.

I made some great contacts and want to thank you for your time.

Nick, Actor

got an i/v at Endemol tomorrow thro you!

Claire, Producer

I've got a great job through Media Parents - thanks!

Jules Seymour, PD

I'm working thanks to Media Parents!

Eoin O'Shea, PD

I've got a job through Media Parents - thank you!

Zoe Fryer, PD

I've just got a development job through Media Parents - thank you!

Susan Crook

I've been offered a development job at Endemol which is fantastic. Just 3 months to start with and then we'll see. If it hadn't been for your networking evening there is no way I would have had the guts to approach Endemol. This is dream job scenario and I'm very appreciative to you for setting it up.

Emma, Development Producer

I've had some really good applicants through the Media Parents site, thanks ever so much.

Daniell Morrisey, BBC Talent Executive

Thank you again for the networking evening! It was great not just to speak to the execs etc...but also meet fellow freelancers. That doesn't happen very often. Nice people!

Peter Strachan, PD

Thanks so much for organising the Endemol/MP event last week, it was really good, and nice to meet you at last!

Anna, Producer

Just a very quick and very late note to say thank you very much for organising the Endemol event and it was just great. I went feeling a bit apprehensive but left feeling pretty optimistic and excited - the possibility of working back in TV may be there! And it was so lovely to catch up with people I worked with over 10 years ago - god kind of makes me feel old but then again we obviously we didn't look a day older!

Emma, PD / AP

I've been following on Twitter for a while and its a brilliant idea and a fabulous way of keeping all that experience involved in the industry.

I've just left the 'frontline' in London myself and really looking forward to being able to offer a more flexible style of working for the new shows, will keep you posted.

Julia, Exec Producer, East Coast Pictures

I wanted to say a big thank you to you for all your hard work. It's much appreciated and a bold step that I believe will catch on, thanks to your pioneering work! I've mentioned the initiative to people I've met in the hope that the good word will spread and also so that people can start to see a life to complement work as a good thing.

Shiroma Silva, PD

Thank you for organising another brilliant evening - everyone was saying how brilliant the Endemol event was!

Elaine Carlton, PD

Thanks to everyone at Media Parents for an enjoyable and potentially fruitful evening.

Barrie Kelly, Studio Producer

The Endemol meets media parents event was great last night - well done! I put a message on the media parents wall too. all the best and keep them coming! I don't know how you do it all! but it is so good to meet other people in our position, as well as meeting potential future employers who appreciate the situation we are in.

Jo Woolf, edit producer

Thank you all so much for working incredibly hard to make this happen - hopefully it will lead to some good connections.

Bella Lambourne, Global Head of Human Resources, Endemol

Thanks Amy - the Endemol meets Media Parents event was very enjoyable and it was great to meet new people! It was definitely worthwhile and I'm sure it will be advantageous to us all!

Susan King, Head of Production, Remarkable

Thanks so much for organising this event Amy, it was great to see some old faces and to meet some new ones!

Endemol's attitude to TV working parents seemed really open and forward thinking, so it was an evening well spent.

With very best wishes

Simone, Freelancer

great to have found a Polish-speaking PD through Media Parents - thanks!

Rival Media

I had a great time working for Kathy O Neil at ZKK this summer (she advertised on Media Parents for a director for Diet Crazy Mums, show 3 on Pushy and Proud). Best job I've had for a long time, made a new contact and a new friend.

Caroline Allward, PD

Media Parents is the most brilliant idea - well done you! See you at the Endemol meets Media Parents event.

Susan, Series Producer

As a new freelancer I really do value the contact with Media Parents.

Hilary, Natural History Producer

thanks for having me @media parents - it's a brilliant site!!

@elspethpenny

Media Parents is phenomenal - what can I say? Long may your success continue!

Hayley, SP

I must thank Media Parents for all assistance and feedback in regards CV appeal advice, it was great receiving advice and feedback about talent managers workflow... Media Parents seems to go above and beyond in assisting members in increasing their appeal to the local market.

David, PD

Media Parents - thanks for your feedback on my profile which was very useful. I have followed your advice, and hope that this will persuade potential employers to keep reading.... I will let you know how I get on.

John, Director

I probably should have let you know before - I'm working in London on Come Dine with Me a job I got through Media Parents. I'm here until April now - 9 months work! Thanks!

Sharon Bennett

we employed award winning director brian hayes through Media Parents - brilliant!

Julia Waring, RDF

I'm talking to somebody about a composing job through your site - thanks, it's good!

Augustin, Composer

I got a job within hours of being on Media Parents!

matt dolan, shooting AP

I employed Matt Dolan through Media Parents as an AP and he is great!

Rosie, Renegade Pictures

I just wanted to let you know that through the mediaparents blog Gaby Koppel is now working with us on the documentary (see http://blog.mediaparents.co.uk) - helping us to get it commissioned. We wouldn't have been in contact if it wasn't because of mediaparents - so thanks. I'll keep you updated with progress.

Thanks

Lauren Pushkin

Thanks for the ad, I will come to you for future short term roles. I've seen some good Cvs so will keep hold of these.

Michelle Chappell, five

I'm very pleased to announce that I got a EP job with Cineflix through Media Parents. I start in 2 weeks and very excited. I will put in on my post once i start as I don't want to jinx it!

I've been hearing great things about your site so wanted to get in on the act!

Laura McKay, IWC Glasgow

In case you hadn’t heard, I just wanted to let you know that we have already taken on someone on from the Bristol Media Parents networking event as an edit producer on a new food series, we are looking at someone else as an editor and there were several other people of interest. So definitely worthwhile all round!

Mark Hill, Head of RDF West

Have just employed Andrea Pearce as Edit Producer. Many thanks for placing the add.

Ceri Rowlands, Cineflix

It was so great going to the seminar at BBC Bristol. To actually meet
some of the top broadcasters in Bristol face to face and "speed
network" was fantastic. It meant so much more than just joining an
online agency thing. What a brilliant idea.... I loved the 8 mins
of time then ringing a bell. It has filled me with confidence to get
out there and do other things. I've been working at the same Prod
Company for the past 15 years so it's very exciting to meet other
people and find out what they are all doing.

Thanks so much for putting on the event. It was great and I hope it
will lead to some job offers.

margaret

I just had an interview, and got the job today from Media Parents, at DKK, a one off for Sky, that's the third job from your site for me!

caroline

i just posted some jobs on media parents - the site was really easy to use and i got great responses from real grown ups!

julia waring, RDF Media

Thank you for inviting me to your social event yesterday. I met some really interesting people. I didn't want to come to this barbecue and nearly went home half way here and it's been brilliant, I will definitely come to events again and next time I will know people.

Una

i've got a short edit producing gig on a list show through media parents - yeah!

Alex

we employed a series producer through Media Parents, thanks

Vikki, ITV

we employed a dad through media parents!

Carolyn, MTV

I'd been out of work for a while and Media Parents gave me my break back into production. Can't speak highly enough of the site.

Emma

Media Parents singlehandedly relaunched my TV career.

Dave

I got the AP job with Renegade and start Thursday. I'm delighted!

Jasbir

I think MP is excellent and there are more real jobs here than anywhere else as far as I can tell.

Andy

Heaven forbid we should ever have to use Productionbase again!

Ceri, Small Indie

The Media Parents meets Vera, Splash and Rival event was very useful. Had a good chat with Jane Lush and picked some very useful info from other attendees! Also got a meeting with Rebecca at Vera so looking forward to that. Thanks for organising!

Delyth

You are actually a GENIUS!! Brilliant

rebecca

Since I joined with you I believe end of March? I've had one interview from Heritage Lottery and I got now a short term contract of 1 week with Illumina Digital! So, I'm real happy to have joined you. It's nice to be Coordinating again and I'd like to get more experience to hopefully qualify with a good production company. It's nice to put the email to the face too!

Just a friendly feedback that I had a real good time at the networking event last night. Even though I was the only Script Supervisor. :-) I felt unique and not like a fish out of water. It was great to get an idea on the headhunting from the producers and just to meet face to face and see what they are looking for. I met some nice PD/PMs too. LOL I thought PD was Production Designer. It is but never thought of Producer/Director. I also loved and I mean LOVED Envy and the cordial warm welcome. Everything was well planned and organised. Great food too!

Gladys

It was a great night last night and all the company reps that I met were lovely so thank you both for organising.

Ruki

Thanks for a great evening. Makes such a huge difference to meet people face to face.

Ana

thanks so much, the best event ever!

ian

Thanks very much for the event last night, thank you also for swiftly introducing me to Geoff Atkinson - he was really great and we had an interesting chat.

Congrats on pulling it all together so successfully.

Jill

Well done Media Parents, very useful evening.

Serena

Thanks very much for organising last night. It was great!

Steph

A BIG THANKS for organising this event, I had a great time and met some fun guys and gals plus chance to speak to the HODs was great . . and I'm sure you know with this kind of thing you just have to keep at it and getting out there and getting your face remembered amongst the crowd and see where that leads. So I'm already looking forward to the next one !

Ian

I thought Tuesday's network event was excellent although the speed dating initially felt like a post office queue I would highly recommend doing this way of meeting heads of production at the next event.

You got to see everybody that you wanted and didn't have compete with loads of people which meant you were more relaxed but knew that you had an allocated time.

Can't wait for the next one

Che

Wanted to let you know that we received a great response from Media Parents re this PD post. Good CVs.

Cineflix

we're booking a Media Parents shooting AP - he's brilliant!

Cineflix

We got lots of responses and really good CV's. I think that the response was great and there were many people that I thought would be absolutely capable of doing the job.

Dragonfly

I got a good response from Media Parents thanks and seeing some people this week.

Renegade Films

We had a good high quality response from Media Parents applicants. Thanks to Udo and Amy for an extremely helpful service.

Cineflix

The editor we hired through Media Parents was a good egg and we were happy with him, so thank you. Will definitely be in touch.

Rival Media

had a great interview just now from a lovely SP at Silver River through MP, i'm in last three, so maybe have a job, depends what the channel say. Just waiting for outcome.

Fingers Crossed

Thanks Amy. Looking forward to networking. It's a really well-designed site.

Rachael

Verity who is our Production Exec has set up a Shine account with you guys, and we did take somebody through the CVs you sent through so thanks for that.

We will be looking for a team of AP and Researchers starting in May so will definitely use you for getting the CV applications through.

Natalie, Shine

Was good to talk to you today too. What's great about Media Parents is being able to contact you easily if there are any problems. Thank You for my CV suggestions. They will prove very helpful, no doubt.

Lucy

Just to let you know that I'm doing the (mums returning to work) workshop on Wednesday. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Amy

Well done on the site. I think it's great, especially all the meet ups etc you organise.

Matt

Had interview for job at Channel 4 yesterday and am about to go to one at Gogglebox now... Your site is great.

Danielle

Thanks so much Amy. Had some good stuff through today from you guys.

Love Productions

We did employ someone through Media Parents - she is sitting opposite me, and she is great. Thanks!

Vera

Great, I've got a 4 day a week flexible editing job through Media Parents. I think the site is brilliant, thanks!

Jean

Just a quick message to say a massive thanks for the advert. We have two editors starting with us on Monday for 8 weeks, 4 days a week.

The service is excellent and we will definetely look to use it in the future.

Leopard Films

I did get the Rival job so thankyou - £15 well spent as it led to 3 days work!... I'm very pleased to have got work immediately through Media Parents.
Thankyou - it's a great idea for us freelance tv parents!

Sebastian

"Just thought I'd let you know I've got my first job after maternity leave through MediaParents. It's the PM job at CTN. It's short-term... I'm delighted. It's got the ball rolling again."

Zoe

Well, I applied for the science job and I got an interview tomorrow ! Not a bad result on my first day!!

Lorne

"I have an idea that's in development and being pitched by a company I met through Media Parents".

Robin

"I got some flexible development work with Tiger Aspect after the Tiger Aspect Meets Media Parents event".

Gill

"I had only been on the site for two days when I was offered an Edit Producing job on a great series. The job wasn't advertised, the company just searched the database and found me."

Colette

"We've had some great responses for SPs and APs, great service you're providing there."

Back2Back Productions

"I totally credit media parents' networking session for setting me on the path to getting this job."

Kate

On a Media Parents Event:

Thank YOU it ruled! Good times

Guy

Well done for organising another great event! Thank you and I'll look forward to the next one.

Lucy

Big thanks for organising last night - was fun as always and great to meet people...I bumped into the person who gave me my first directing experience, amazing!

Comment on a Media Parents Networking Event

I just did a short job through Media Parents for Blink. It was advertised for 2 weeks but they extended me to 6 weeks and were flexible letting me do a 4 day week as I live in Brighton.

Nina

"I have been hugely impressed by the standard of the talent on Media Parents... It's a fantastic resource for any production company"

Helen Matthews, HR Director, Tiger Aspect

Huge thanks for the job I got with Optomen TV through Media Parents. Initial 2 week part-time contract back in August has now been extended until next year! Fantastic work, great company, thank you Amy!

Kate

p.s I'm still working at Blink Films on a 3 week job I got through media parents (became a 2 month contract- thanks!)

Nina

the site is extremely easy to navigate, which is a rarity!

Adam

great what you're doing on your website.

Ruby Wax

about time someone set this up! Good thinking! P/D, edit producer, series producer & mother of two... thanks

I've just joined the Media Parents group on Facebook. What a great idea! It's about time somebody acknowledged the existence of parents in the industry!

I fall into the category of women who has found themselves unintentionally falling out of the freelance TV industry since having children. Having had my first child when I was 'only' an AP in 2003, I have since discovered that for APs to get employed in factual programmes now they need to also be proficient at shooting and editing (skills which were not often required of APs when I was working). With the exception of a few short contracts and bits and pieces of development work, I have found myself to be seemingly unemployable in TV, in spite of knowing that I was (and still am!) excellent at my job.

Anyway, in the spirit of nothing ventured nothing gained, here's my CV. I would be happy to hear any feedback you have about my CV. I am always unsure whether to 'fess up' to having children upfront, by way of accounting for the gaps between my credits in recent years, or whether to only mention the children if asked outright. Who would have thought having kids would be such a dirty secret! I love the site and in full support of what you are doing! Please find my CV attached. Many thanks and I look forward to watching Media Parents grow....

I'm a media mum with two children as well as a freelance TV reporter. I currently have shifts at ITV's London Tonight, but I'm always on the lookout for more child friendly work. One of my colleagues told me about your website which sounds like a great idea. I'm attaching my CV!

Just found your page on Facebook. This is a fantastic idea! I've found it very difficult to find work that fits in with having a young child and media hours. Here's my cv for your information. I'm available for work immediately for full time or part-time positions. I would prefer something permanent or long-term ongoin

I think what you doing is tremendous - I'm due to have my baby this Saturday so will be out of action for a few months - but I'm so excited about having somewhere to turn to get back into the business again. In the mean time I will pass on Media Parents details to all the companies and media parents I know.

I think it's an amazing idea and much needed! Being pregnant was a difficult enough adjustment, so not having felt confident enough to apply for broadcast roles, anticipating a negative reaction to "the bump" - even when it was a very small one - hasn't made me feel especially bright about the future. I hope to be able to be a still-in-the-media parent after my new friend arrives in June, so anything that can be done to show employers that there is life in us old dogs yet is fantastic!

A colleague of mine told me about your new service. I am a production manager based in Bristol with a 17 month old son and I would love to have help in finding some part time longer term work. I have been flitting about over the last year or so on very short term contracts and have had to go back to PC work in order to keep some money coming in.

You know how it is. When I first started out I felt that as I woman I needed to have many bows to my string and be good at everything and as a black woman I felt I had to give that much more. Things are a changing for the better please to say. That has helped shaped my approach to work. I always do my job well and have fun. Its so encouraging that this exist.

I just wanted to touch base with you and find out a bit more, it sounds great what you're doing and a fantastic idea. I've just launched a new corporate production company - Nylon Films www.nylonfilms.co.uk and would be absolutely up for targeting Mums or parents who need that bit more flexibility! As a media mum I know the pressures we are under in this industry!

Helen Morrell, Head of Production, Nylon Films

am loving what you are doing. I am based in the North West so anythin I can do to help let me know.

I've just become a new dad and heard about Media Parents from my wife Sara. We both work in TV and are ideally looking for work that would be flexible around childcare so we can share the dropping off and picking up of our baby. Having said that I've just finished a series that was filming in the Atlantic over the winter and editing down in Brighton so something London based would be a dream. I've attached my CV, I've got loads of experience self shooting and directing and have worked a lot with contributors and talent. I love your facebook profile photo and think it's great idea for a group

Apologies for not being able to make the meeting last night but I am thrilled it went so well and so impressed with the groundswell of support you are getting from all areas!

I have been working for the last year as head of corporate films for a small indie called Popkorn which has been three days a week and amazing, so I know what a difference having a part time media job can make to your life - both financially and in terms of your self-esteem and I profoundly believe that being a working mother makes you better at both roles - I'm a dogged hard-worker in the office because I really appreciate the chance to be an adult and use my skills, and it also makes me enjoy going back to looking after my son Isaac.

What a fantastic idea! I have just been sent a link to your website from a a good friend of mine who is a production manager with two kids. I have one child and am struggling to make things work. I have 13 years of experience as a P/D and Series Director and am really keen to work a couple of days a week; apart from the odd bit of development, this has proved not very easy. I am sad I missed your meeting yesterday at BAFTA -but hope you will have similar events in the future which I will attend...

Have just joined your group on Facebook. Great idea. Only noticed it today so sorry too late to attend do this evening.

jobs! yes please!

I have recently moved to Bristol from London and I am seeking part time work (3/4 days a week or school hours). Prior to this move, I worked for a company called Rockhopper TV for 5 fantastic years. I started out at Rockhopper as a Researcher moving onto Assistant Producer, Producer/Director and Production Co-ordinating/Managing once I had my two children.

There have been many fine words spoken about diversity and family-friendly working. So far it amounts to very little. I think what you are attempting to do is admirable, but am very sceptical it will help without a major cultural shift in the way production is organised. i.e. a break from the culture of panic and disorganisation. If you can catalyse that change you'll be doing the industry a massive service.

I just wanted to let you know that I have been booked for that Script Supervisor's job through Media Parents, thanks - I will be buying the expensive sausages for supper tonight!!

ALI

I just want to say what a fantastic job you've done setting up this much needed site!! I'm not a parent yet - as I've been putting it off and putting it off - because I was worried about finding flexible work hours and still making as ok living - but this is very encouraging ... thank you.

Well done you guys! I would love to join you at Bafta tomorrow but can't - I actually have a week's work - woo hoo - this week. Not media related, but good to be back in the saddle. I have twenty year's experience - almost - I started working in theatre in 1992 and have worked in film, TV, webcast, radio, theatre, advertising and print and find myself at home hoping a corporate video company might call. It is absurd. I want to look after my baby, but equally, I would like to keep my toe in as well.

Well done on this - sounds great. As you know I'm based in Devon so won't be able to come along to the meeting but would love to keep in the loop - especially to hear more how to help make roles more parent / job share friendly.

Sue Kenderdine, twofour productions

Think you are doing a fab job. Will do all I can to help promote the site.

I wish I'd had that support when I was working in tv.

DELIGHTED to find your site, well done for setting this up. I worked bloody hard to carve myself a career as a drama script editor, so hard in fact that by the time I got my first script editing job I was reaching prime baby making age. Once my first child came along there was no way I could fit the expected long hours around child rearing, and so I've had to say goodbye to both my income and my career hopes and dreams. It seems so short sighted of companies to lose talented women (and men) in this way. Within drama production, especially long running series, there's a culture of working long long hours - you get to prove yourself by staying up all night working on scripts and taking them home at weekends. Surely it's common sense that employees will give better quality work if they are happier and can balance work with other parts of life. Why burn people out and send them away exhausted and half crazy when you could respect employees' needs, get them trained up to do the job just right, and keep hold of them for years?

i think what you are doing here is excellent and i fully support it.

Please find attached my resume. I received your details through Facebook. I'm a single mum with two children looking for tv work again after living in Bangkok for 3 years. Would love to gain some work in London as I'm currently based in the North-Eas

Brilliant!

Congratulations on the Media Parents website.... I've been following progress and you've done amazingly well. It's a great cause...I wish I'd had that kind of support when my children were growing up. I felt I had to prove that having children would make no difference to my work....hence all the lines on my face!!!

Jane Lush, Joint MD, Splash Media

Media parents is a vital service if we are going to keep the excellent people who work in Television and other media from abandoning this profession. It is an brilliant concept and thank goodness someone has done something about it!

Gaby Roslin

It's a long tough road to change the attitudes and opinions of this Industry and the reality is that in many of the jobs I have been involved with a job share would have been difficult if not impossible. But I do think that giving talented parents jobs is vital and that where ever possible we need to be as open to trying new ways. I will mention your website to anyone looking for staff.

Hi Amy - I'm not a parent, but need to work flexibly and part time, and think a site for those more flexible jobs is great. Would like a banner, ideally, that is not only "parents". Am sending a CV through on the CV email.

Will try to make the meeting but here is the questionnaire. Think it's a great idea and thanks for finally going to bat for working parents!

My good friend Sue told me about your group. I haven't got any children but I am 37yrs old and have been producing/directing for hundreds of years. I would love to do a job share or a job which has flexible hours and doesn't involve me not sleeping for 2 nights in a row. Will I be able to join - I am on facebook.

I'm a Mum to two boys: aged just 8 and just 2. I'm also an Archive Researcher. I'm looking for part-time work, or a job-share. Most of my experience is at LWT/ITV (at the tower), but I'm open to all ideas. To stay working in TV, I'm very happy to consider production co-ordinator jobs (I just helped out on the Southbank Show Awards for example). Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my CV.

Thanks so much for deciding to do something so proactive and getting television companies on board to consider job share/part time production roles. Please find my CV attached. I'm a really experienced AP who speaks Spanish and who also has ten years experience working in marketing and communications in the UK, Cambodia, Chile and Spain prior to moving into television. All the very best of luck with this initiative and let me know if I can do anything to help.

Please find attached my CV for your records. I really like the media parents concept and hope it takes off for you (and possibly me!) You'll see I have a healthy work history in television and online production so I hope my CV will be of interest to many companies. I have produced a variety of magazine, factual entertainment and reality shows and more recently I have gained invaluable experience heading up all of Channel 4's Big Brother online content which has given me a sound understanding of producing cross-platform content.

Love the site and FB group! I've been freelancing as an archive researcher for 20 years, the last 10 as a parent. I've been lucky in that I've generally been able to work from home, on a part-time basis, for child friendly Indies. I have heard some horror stories about other Indies though. I think there is a definite need for Media Parents. You requested CVs, so here's mine!

Please find attached my CV for your records. I really like the media parents concept and hope it takes off for you (and possibly me!) You'll see I have a healthy work history in television and online production so I hope my CV will be of interest to many companies. I have produced a variety of magazine, factual entertainment and reality shows and more recently I have gained invaluable experience heading up all of Channel 4's Big Brother online content which has given me a sound understanding of producing cross-platform content.

I was intrigued to find out more about what your organisation are up to and how you are getting on with lobbying industry to take notice of your cause. I have just decided to return to TV after nearly a 3 year break myself after having a child, and finding it very quiet and not great out there.

please find enclosed my Cv. I am a very experienced series producer with lots of prime time experience. I also am also a very child friendly boss when crewing up productions although this has not always worked out. Anyway have attached my cv and very good luck with your site.

Well done for the great idea! I took part in the Skillset research on women in TV a while back and said that part-time/jobshare/family friendly jobs should be made more accessible or advertised. Delighted you are getting such a good response. I'm an experienced and award-winning PD in documentary/current affairs/factual/development. Have done an excellent Skillset/DV Talent Series Producer course too and could work at this level. Ironically I am currently working on a programme about families and the perils of long working hours... I've barely seen my kids for ages. So I hope mediaparents continues to snowball, and that there is some jobs joy for women like me!

Been meaning to say - so impressed at your determination, cause and workrate! You truly are a force to be reckoned with. Hope it's going well and you're enjoying the challenge

Please find attached my CV. After my first child I have been lucky enough to find some part time PM jobs and then went on to full time PM roles, all of which have allowed me to leave the office at 5pm. Although I have also clearly not been offered some jobs though due to the need to leave the office at 5pm to collect the kids from nursery. I think 'mediaparents' is a great idea - raising the issue and highlighting that parents can still work within TV is a fantastic idea.

A friend of mine sent me you Facebook link, here's my latest CV, I'm a freelance PD (and father of 3). I think the whole Media Parents is a great idea, it is such a un-parent friendly industry as a whole.

Great idea to have set this up...i've just struggled to get my employer (WITHELD commissioning department) to allow me to return to work part time. so was really pleased to see this group. It was such a nightmare - I even included cv's of FIVE qualified freelancers interested in doing a job share, yet STILL they refused to let me do a job share…the flexi job legislation is a pharse, as no employer is obliged to seriously consider your request, just pay lip service to it. 2 weeks after refusing my 3 day a week request, they asked me to cover a colleague for 2 days a week, who'd been invited to work on a prestigious project… so a job share could work when it suited them. It's great to read all your updates and such a needed site in our industry. I'm actually about to go on maternity leave so this is a bit premature but I'd like to be on your files. My background is mainly in reality including X Factor, Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity, Hell's Kitchen and most recently I formatted and series edited the first series of Dancing on Ice Friday. I'm attaching my CV and would love to be on your database. When I return to work I'd ideally like a position that I can do 3-4 days a week

I've just come across you're group on facebook and am sending you my CV, attached.

I haven't worked in a while and am trying to get back into it on a part time basis.

My experience is in production assistant / production coordinator roles and also art department and props

I'm based between Glasgow and Dublin but will consider short term roles anywhere in the UK.

This all looks very interesting and exactly the type of venture "Raise the Roof" would actively support. I'm heading off on holiday but it would be good to have a proper chat [when I get back].

Jane Muirhead, MD, Raise the Roof, Glasgow

Just wanted you to know you have the full support of Rival Media for Media Parents and want to help in every way we can.

All of our team right now are either parents (or about to be) so its key for us to be proactive and flexible about child care and how to fit work around parenting and vice-versa!

Steve Wynne, Joint Managing Director, Rival Media

Media Parents sounds great. I'm a experienced PD and just had a little girl. I worked very long hours while I was pregnant and I'm not looking forward to going back to work doing the same thing.

It's a fantastic and very timely thing to be doing, I've been talking about the need for something like this for ages, and meant to do something about it myself, but never got around to it.

Helen Hawken, Exec Producer, Raptor Vision

friend passed your email on to me & as an ex GMTV Producer/Director with 2 young children I think it's a great idea! I am increasingly frustrated that I am unable to use the hard earned skills which I worked for so long for. As you say in your email I'd be happy to do a job for which I appear over qualified for just to keep my hand in... That is of course if it can be balanced with childcare requirements!

I was a producer/ series producer/ series editor for more than 15 years and bang - one baby and no career! My daughter will be 2 next week and since taking a year's maternity leave I have given up on telly and carved out a portfolio career as a writer (one book deal, one newspaper column) but it is great to know that maybe my years of experience are not in vain and flexible or part-time work may actually exist!

I've been a PD/ Edit/VT producer for 7 yrs now and have done a handful of tv related work in the last couple of years, mostly helping people out last minute for a month here and there (and worked full pelt to get myself back into credit again!) To be honest I haven't gone out looking for work as much as I should have but this is mostly because I'm put off doing the long hours - I'd never see my daughter! You've heard that so many times by now. Recently I've been doing more corporate stuff - it's a day here and there but not enough.

I've just joined Media Parents and felt i had to say a huge well done for setting up such a brilliant idea. Too many of us (me included!!) have grumbled about the whole TV hours / parent dilemma but you've actually gone and done something about it. Thank you! I'm a Prod / Ed Prod / Director and will be sending you my CV soon. Really well done and keep up the good work!

I think this is a great idea and we would love to work with you on it.

Debbie Newton, HR Director, All3Media

I had a nightmare trying to fit the job around children. When at the BBC I said I would be way for the birth of my child [I'd save the leave as not real paternity leave then] My line manager said to me I couldn't - as who would direct the show that evening. I'd given them 6 months notice of the event but they couldn't get their head around the idea that I wouldn't be there. And explaining school holidays or the importance of school plays or sports.

You're turning into a one woman job centre!

I was a single dad for two years and was lucky enough to find a corporate producing job that didn't require me to travel so much. Now I've a partner and am trying to get back into broadcast PD freelancing. I suspect I've already lost one job as a result of having a child (50% of the time). Won't be mentioning it in the future. During an interview with one very right on company, I was asked if I had children. I didn't get the job.

I'm a Mum and series producer and attach my CV. This is a fantastic idea, good for you. I was shocked by the statistic of 5,000 women leaving tv... But I can understand why. Since having my daughter a year ago I've felt like I might be forced to change careers due to the inflexibility of most tv opportunities.

It's a career that we work hard for, often sacrifice personal lives for, so when you have a family its frustrating that suddenly everything you worked all those years for feels like its slipping away. (Unless you are happy to put work before family) I was fortunate enough to be offered a part-time contract last year (female exec). It would be great if there were more opportunities like this. Look how good parents are at time management and organisation - to name just two skills needed for tv careers!

Congratulations on "Media Parents!" Can't believe no one has thought of it before! I'm constantly fighting two battles - being a dad and being over 40 (which also seems a barrier these days!) Still I live in hope that experience wins the day! I'm attaching a CV...

It seems there are few industries quite like television for discriminating against professionals with kids.

I am a Producer / Director with 16 years experience at the BBC and now working as a freelancer. I am really keen to support your group and also try my luck at finding some part time / flexible short or long term work.

media parents fab idea and we will use!

Harry Bell, Creative Director, Tern TV

As a parent myself I work hard to ensure a work life balance, and I would never discriminate against recruiting mums or dads as I think they bring a maturity and empathy to their work. As long as you can plan your shoot out, you should be able to fit in life at work and the kids. I know am lucky as I can work flexible hours to a point, as I run the dept. But here at ITV you can apply for different working hours.

Naveed Chowdhary-Flatt | Features Editor | Daytime - Editorial | ITV plc

We are keen to encourage fathers, who often see themselves as being the full time breadwinner, to think about flexible and part time working so that they can get more involved with their children. I'm going to pass this on...

I'm also passing it on to my wife who was a tv journalist at the BBC before we had children and is now thinking of going back to work.

I'm so pleased to have found your group - genius idea! I'm looking for full time work as a P/D or edit producer at the moment. I live in Brighton but am up for work in London. I've attached my cv.

I just wanted to say a bloody well done for setting this up! Brilliant idea and much overdue.

I am a writer/director/producer and own and run a small indie with big aspirations so as and when I need people, I will direct requirements to you too.

Lara Greenway, Brave Soldier Films Ltd

I'm thinking about having children and was thinking about leaving t.v. because of the way I've seen women disappear over the last few years but you've given me hope!

Thank you. I mean I can't believe there is someone out there is finally trying to help people like me. Once you stop working you feel like such an outsider and regularly feel like giving up. You often regret why you chose to work in such a competitive and impossible industry. But it is what you know and love and sometimes what you are meant to do

I was very pleased to find your web site - I have had numerous problems trying to return to work after the birth of my children and feel as though my time and experience has been a waste. I miss working in the industry and am extremely jealous that my husband is still offered work whilst I was once asked when 'ringing round' "who would look after my children?" I have tried to access further training without much success and feel as though there is a huge brick wall out there stopping me - the longer I am out of the loop the harder it is. I am based in the west midlands and with my husband working away a lot I need to find work locally. Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated - I will be passing your information on to other mothers too.

Let's spare a thought too for the older TV workers and support them as they continue to work long hours in a world where we thought we would actually get the pension we paid in to!!!!!

I have already forwarded your website address to friends of mine who had also received it from other friends. So there is a big buzz in the air!

Diana Hunter Head of Production, outlineproductions

Great idea! Many thanks

Madonna Benjamin, Minnow Films

I'd heard about Media Parents and am fully supportive - being one myself!

Helen Pratt, Head of Talent, Fresh One Productions

Can i highly recommend my company - they are totally supportive of flexible working hours. They let me work from milan and fly back from shoots and they support others in this way who they feel do a good job and can work from home. I have mentioned media parents to them. It is a broadcasting company working within an advertising agency.

A couple of people have forwarded me an email about 'Media Parents' and I think it's a really good one. It's been tough getting back into TV since having my son 9 months ago as I can no longer accept jobs that require you to be working very unsociable hours. I'm doing a couple of weeks edit producing at Granada at the moment and prior to that I have been working for 'Greedy Media'. They would be very interested in using talented parents for short form, corporate gigs.

I have also talked about job sharing - I think it's a good way of getting two brains and double the creativity for the price of one but I don't know of many companies who will do this.

I've no problem endorsing mediaparents. My feeling is that we'd get a better class of talented TV people to work with. We are working on mainly online projects for clients and we use TV crews for all our web films so could be some work coming up the busier we get.

Justin Lennox-Bradley - Creative Director - "Greedy Media"

Great idea....would be really interested to know if you are just looking at London based media parents or are you including the regions? I'm north west based and with the advent of Media Centre at Salford maybe now is the time to "strike while the iron's hot" - just as the BBC is advertising for quite a number of new people for the departments moving up to Manchester/Salford

Anita walsh production partners, Manchester

I think I could go on - in ranty mood now! I sound like a bitter woman I think, but there aren't many women around who've made it work - I don't have kids, but I might one day and I'm in no doubt that it's bye bye to any career in all likelihood!

For me, a major concern on returning to work are the logistics and the hours required to get a production up and running. Pre-production and regular hours I think are possible but studio and filming days are always a lot trickier and should I expect to be considered if I can't put in the extended hours? Nurseries open from 8am and close at 6pm - To get a job that works within those hours would be amazing as would half days and work from home days. My husband works in Soho as a film trailer editor and I think you'll find a lot of couples who both work in media. His hours are very erratic but he is the breadwinner so it would always be my responsibility to pick our son up from nursery. Also this might be wishful thinking but availability is a big thing when you're freelancing - productions hire within a week or a few days of needing to fill a role. It would take a good 2/3 weeks for me to be able to put everything into action before I could return to work, as I can't afford to have our son in nursery already if I'm not working.

One media corporate company that are great when it comes to freelancing parents are Orchard Communications in Surrey. I worked with them freelancing, fell pregnant, continued freelancing and then was offered a full time job to start once baby born / promotion / flexible hours / good rate all very fair. I ended up moving back to Essex and they still offered flexible hours / commuting etc. They were fantastic. If only more companies utilised & appreciated their freelancers like that

Jo, Executive Producer @ Honey Media, Essex

I've worked freelance as a PM for the 10 years I've been a parent, and STILL come up against prejudice because I've a child - more so because I'm a lone parent. The prejudice is always 'off the record' - but 2 or 3 companies (and I'm including a BIG company here, that's pledged support on your FB page) have the opinion, that given I've got sole responsibility for a child, they're concerned I'm unable to travel overseas or give the commitment required to the larger / big budget shows. The result is, I'm generally employed on documentaries - which I admit has been great whilst bringing up my daughter - but not exactly challenging. To be honest, this is something I've generally accepted, but having read your page & updates, I'm beginning to feel it's an archaic attitude that shouldn't be accepted in this day and age. I'd appreciate if the above is treated anonymously btw. Good luck with what you're doing - it's great to see parents being represented within the media. There are a lot of us after all.

I've just heard about Media Parents through a friend and it sounds like a brilliant idea! I had my baby in September last year and I'm now at the point where I'm looking for part time work. I'm an assistant producer, and most recently worked on The One Show, and would love to stay in TV but am obviously concerned that there might not be work that I could fit round my daughter.

Lucy Adams has asked me to contact you about your proposal. I had in fact already seen this via another route and have asked my team to speak to HR colleagues in BBC Vision about it and to forward the information to the Cultural Diversity Network. I would certainly like to meet with you to discuss further.

Amanda - J Rice, BBC Head of Diversity

A PRODUCTION COMPANY have been great at saying that i can leave by 5.15 to pick my daughter up from the childminder but i'll have to start really early. Ideally i would love part time work 3 or 4 days a week but i don't know in reality if this is realistic. When i asked at ANOTHER PRODUCTION COMPANY (where i have quite a good relationship) if i could work part time they said no full time or nothing.

I think media parents is a great idea and will put you in touch with people.

Michelle Matherson, BBC Factual Talent & Recruitment

I'm just emailing to say that I think it is a great idea and certainly needed. When I was working in production as a freelancer I never told anyone that I had children (I was a single parent as well) as I knew that it would mean I was very likely not to be given the job. I don't think things have got any better.

I will be taking this up with my colleageues in Diversity, I also sit on the CDN for the BBC and work closely with Oona King and others from across UK broadcasting. I think there is defintely scope for CDN to endorse this initiative and encourage indies and in-house production to engage with you. Best wishes.

Sue Caro BBC Senior Diversity Manager, Portrayal

What a fabulous idea! We would be delighted to support you in whatever way we can. I think this could be a fabulous resource, both for freelancers and for indies. We actively support flexible working methods, and would be very happy to be creative in the way we think about jobs. All best.

Laura Mansfield Joint MD, Outline Productions

I just wanted to say Media Parents is an amazing idea. I think my husband wrote to you too recently. We are both MASSIVE fans and were excited when we heard about you. I'm an AP and I became a mum a year ago. I decided to go back to work in Feb and have been very lucky getting short contracts and some, where I even got to work from home! It's tough out there even if you're not a parent and I have even thought about ditching TV but I absolutely love what I do for a living and don't want to be pushed out of the industry just because I have a cute little baby at home and can't go on long shoots or stay after 6pm or go out drinking every night with the team! I worked at A TV CO while I was pregnant and they took me back for a few week's development job when I decided to go back to work, and know they'd be happy to talk to you. If you like, I can put you in touch with the MD there if you're not already?

I'm really impressed with how much you've achieved in such a short time with Media Parents. It's a fantastic idea, and I find it both inspiring and comforting to know that there are other parents out there in the same position, and a bit of unity building among us to do something about the situation.

Abigail Webber, Former Head of Drama @ Five

I am the MD of a small Indie called Sixth Sense and we specialise in children's content. I would be more than happy to support what you are doing and if any job opportunities come up to get in touch. Having recently completed the Broadcast Survey online about women and mums and been reading associated articles, I think what you are doing sounds great and if I can help in any way I will. At the moment we are not in production, but I will definitely bear you in mind in the future, pass your email onto colleauges and keep an eye on your site.

Sallyann Keizer, MD Sixth Sense Media Ltd

Thanks for sending details about mediaparents.co.uk - a very good idea indeed. I'll circulate the email around here at Outline.

Rain Chapman

If you mention you have had a maternity break most companies don't even reply back to your application.

The general consensus seems to be that you either give up when you have kids, or resign yourself to working all hours and never seeing them. I have been told this by a number of women in the industry - in other words, if you're not tough and pushy enough, and willing to put your relationship with your children on the back burner, you won't get anywhere.

I have two kids, I went back to work two days a week with my first. I was lucky to get a part time job. This is very rare in television. I think it is important to work and have children and get very unhappy that my career is redundant. I don't want to work full time as I chose to have children and I owe it to them to bring them up. But I also am an intelligent and creative person who enjoys working and needs work in order to feel fulfilled. In TV the hours in very long and I have worked on so many programmes where I have had to work weekends. It is such a competitive industry you need to be totally focused or the next person will take your job.

Media parents - love the idea, wish I'd had it myself.

I'm a freelance producer/writer in comedy/comedy ent & am currently Daddy Daycare looking after our 1 year old while my wife works. We'd love to balance it all out so we're certainly on board with what you're trying to achieve.

Thank you, its nice to know that someone is finally thinking about working mothers in this very child un-friendly industry! I have been a production manager for many years and after losing my part time contract last year I have found it almost impossible to find part time work.

I think this is a fantastic idea as I'm 5 and half months pregnant and not exactly finding it easy to find jobs when I waddle in.

Cv attached - sounds like a great new service - yay!

What a fantastic idea media parents is- so needed in the industry.

Your email about your website has been forwarded to me and I'm just emailing to say that I think it is a great idea and certainly needed. When I was working in production as a freelancer I never told anyone that I had children (I was a single parent as well) as I knew that it would mean I was very likely not to be given the job. I don't think things have got any better.

I'm both excited and hopeful at the prospect of execs and the downward chain making some kind of cultural shift toward flexible working, and doubtful that the bastards will pay it anything more than lip-service.

I do hope you have some success with this - The lack of normal, real people working in telly is becoming ever more extreme.

Amy are you media parents? Is this your idea? If so it is AMAZING.

what a good idea; congrats, will send out to all and sundry including the wife x

What a great idea! My wife will be in touch separately no doubt but we've both been finding it hard since having our son in April last year. I took a job at PRODUCTION COMPANY as it's stable but desperately want to continue with more factual and entertainment gigs. Trouble is how do I quit a staff job for a short contract here and there ?

My wife is working but lots of people are put off by the fact she has a baby. I'm also trying to look for more business related roles within tv in the hope of staying with what I love but finding something more stable. It's tough to know where to start though.

PRODUCTION CO have been great at saying that i can leave by 5.15 to pick my daughter up from the childminder but i'll have to start really early. Ideally i would love part time work 3 or 4 days a week but i don't know in reality if this is realistic. When i asked at ANOTHER PRODUCTION CO (where i have quite a good relationship) if i could work part time they said no full time or nothing.

Also i'd be happy to work as a Director but again only if i could be sure of the hours so i could collect my daughter. I've felt like i've had to take edit producing and a cut in salary so i can be sure of my hours.

I think this is a fantastic project you have started. Infact I was tallking to a mum in a coffee shop and we laughed at how many talented women were sat in costa coffee all day! Ideally I would love to do what I was doing before, being a Producer with the option of leaving at 5pm each day. Except when on shoots. I know this would be difficult as it would not go unnoticed and would annoy most people. Therefore right now I would be happy doing all the things you have mentioned on your page. I would be happy to take a step down and widen jobs to transcribing etc or part time work to keep a foot in.

What a great idea. I have definitely written off my media career since becoming a mum as I have no idea how I would make it work. Your idea is a really good one, hope you can get it off the ground. Let me know if I can help in any way. I was at the MGEITF/ BAFTA event and received one of your fliers - what a fantastic idea! I spoke about flexible working and how I really want to have a good work/life balance. I am a live studio Producer, having worked on This Morning as a freelancer for years. But it was that kind of fast-turnaround, stay-until-it's-finished lifestyle that has made working in the media so hard. A lot of women work full time in the industry, with full time childcare, and like Jay said end up not seeing their kids from one week to the next. I don't believe that's what life and having children is all about. I want to do the job I love and still see the children I adore. I have asked to do flexible working in the last few jobs I've had and in some cases it has worked. So, I believe it is a real possibility.

Unfortunately I missed last night's Women in TV debate at BAFTA (childcare issues, natch!), but as a former P/D and Series Producer I have been frustrated and exasperated by the difficulty of trying to juggle a media career and family since my daughter was born 15 months ago.

I was also at the Women In TV event last night and was handed one of your leaflets - yours is a fantastic idea. I am a mother of a two year old daughter and returned to freelance producing when she was 9 months old. My partner works in the film industry and is also freelance. The past two years have been very tough - I have been filled with uncertainty about future work prospects, lost confidence in my ability to get work, felt that I had failed because I was stupid enough to have a family without the security of a permanent job behind at least one of us. Because, especially when you first return you do have to explain your position at interviews and demonstrate that you can be relied upon even though you can't physcially stay in the office beyond 6.30 unless your child starts attending boarding school. Immediately you feel as though you are on the back-foot and not offering as much as other members of the team.

The Skillset stats from last night forced me to realise I am not in the minority in feeling this way and that we could be a vocal force. I have got good child-care organised which is flexible to accomodate periods when I'm not working. But the thought of working part-time as a freelance or flexi-time is something I had written off as impossible because I am not in management or in a staff position. If, by grouping together we could make that happen, then that would be a marvellous achievement.

Thanks for letting me know about your organisation. It sounds a very interesting approach to what remains a big issue for women in the media.

Anne Morrison, Director, BBC Academy

My eldest is now 6. Five years ago I wrote a piece for Broadcast raising the issue of how inflexible tv working culture was and how daft it was that parents (skilled tv practitioners) were being driven away.

The reaction was predictable. Horror from those planning to have families, a knowing "You'll just have to get a nanny or a stay-at-home partner, like the rest of us" from those with kids, and blank incomprehension from the rest. You've no doubt heard all this yourself.

Wow thanks media parents. You don't hang around do you! That's really great. Even if it doesn't come to anything I'm just excited they want to meet me. It's given me a bit of an ego boost and something else to think about. I'd be fine working for someone less experienced than me, after all I've been out of the game a long, long time so I'm sure he's much more up to speed on what the commissioners are looking for than me! Also, I don't have the same agenda any more, it used to be all about moving up the ladder and doing better and bigger things, now it's more about just working and using the skills I have. I don't have anything to prove to anyone any more. I don't want anyone else's job, I just want the opportunity to put the skills I have back into use and someone to talk to, apart from my husband, about the hundreds of programme ideas I've got.

(a media mum)

we do what we can to support working parents, and we will consider restructuring jobs where we can.

Endemol HR

I have also forwarded your e mail to our HR Director at talkbackTHAMES... I like to think we are very friendly to working parents, but I'm sure there's always room for improvement.

Lorraine Heggessey, CEO talkbackTHAMES

about time someone set this up! Good thinking! P/D, edit producer, series producer & mother of two... thanks

great what you're doing on your website.

Ruby Wax