Viewers respond in writing to a 'Late Late Show' devoted to the subject of women in the media.
A party led by Senator Gemma Hussey submitted a report on women in the media to the RTÉ Authority. An entire episode of 'The Late Late Show' debated the representation of women on RTÉ television and radio, and the lack of women in decision making jobs in the organisation.
The panellists on the show included Senator Gemma Hussey, Dr Una Hartnett from a community broadcasting station in Britain, freelance journalist Nell McCafferty, broadcaster Marian Finucane and publisher Noelle Campbell-Sharp.
The following week, 'The Late Late Show' opened with a representative sample of the correspondence received in response to the women in the media show. Some viewers are enraged by Gemma Hussey and Una Hartnett's interpretation of a Yorkie chocolate bar advertisement. This leads a viewer to state,
The kindest thing one could say about Gemma Hussey is that she is devoid of a sense of humour.
Many letters are from women who felt unrepresented by the views presented on the show. They do not believe the panel speaks for them.
Would you please keep that weird bunch of females off 'The Late Late Show'.
From the point of view of the general viewing public, a man from Cork considers the show an
Unmitigated disaster.
A woman bored to tears by the show suggests the panellists,
Should be at home looking after their husbands and children.
Another thinks the show wasted two hours
On women's yap.
Some of the correspondence congratulates the show, welcoming
The time given to women and the time given to women and their place in TV radio and the wider questions which it raised.
A teenager from Balbriggan is glad to see women fighting for a cause.
This episode of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcast on 22 November 1980. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
