On 4 May, the University of Vigo and CIRCOM Regional renewed the CIRCOM Regional–UVigo Chair for the 2025–2026 period with a new research project focused on female leadership in European regional public media.
The initiative will examine the presence and career development of women in positions of responsibility within the European regional public broadcasters associated with the CIRCOM Regional network, as well as their role in the digital transformation of their respective organisations. In addition, the project will analyse equality policies and initiatives aimed at promoting female leadership across regional broadcasters in Europe.
Furthermore, the study will assess whether differences exist in access to senior management positions, the representation of women in middle-management roles (including editors, content managers and programme directors) and successful examples of organisations that have implemented effective measures to foster the inclusion of women in decision-making positions.
To this end, the research will combine qualitative methods, through in-depth interviews, with quantitative approaches based on a survey, in order to analyse the European legal and media landscape and develop a strategic framework together with a set of best-practice guidelines aimed at strengthening diversity and promoting trust in regional public media.
The project will be led by Professor José Rúas Araújo, representing the Faculty of Communication at the University of Vigo, and will also involve Josefin Ziegler, Head of News at SVT Lokal News (Sweden), who will serve as Executive Coordinator on behalf of CIRCOM Regional.
Through this initiative, the University of Vigo continues to strengthen its research activity on European regional public media.