Journalist turned media trainer Allison Webber began in television at a time when women were more likely to be making the tea than making programmes.

After working alongside names like Brian Edwards and Ian Johnstone, she became part of a new generation of women producers and directors who changed the shape of what went on air, especially with her ground-breaking documentary series Expressions of Sexuality.

In this ScreenTalk interview, Webber talks about:

• The excitement of working as a researcher on 90 minute live show Edwards on Saturday
• The show's "hugely creative" presenter Brian Edwards
• Sneaking around apartheid-era South Africa arranging secret interviews with legends like Donald Woods
• An unforgettable encounter with Steve Biko
• How journalists find courage under pressure, but sometimes lack gratitude for opportunities given
• Working with masterful presenter Ian Johnstone, a man who would get just as excited interviewing a possum farmer as a president
• Becoming a producer, at a time when women were starting to move up the ladder
• Making ground-breaking series Expressions of Sexuality, and arranging special training so that those being interviewed were treated respectfully
• How TVNZ, "scared and challenged by the content of the show", sat on it for more than 18 months before putting it on air
• How women's rise into positions of power helped drive change in what played on screen

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence.

NZ On Screen: Interview and editing – Ian Pryor. Camera – Jess Charlton.