BBC Faces Sex and Age Discrimination Case from Female Journalists

Four senior female BBC journalists - Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh - have launched an employment tribunal against the BBC, alleging age and sex discrimination. The women, aged 48 to 55, claim they were unfairly denied chief presenter roles following the merger of the BBC's News and World News channels in July 2022. "We were set up to fail in a rigged process," said Croxall in her witness statement.

The journalists allege that the job application process was a "sham" and that they have suffered pay disparity, victimization, harassment, and reputational damage as a result. They claim to have been kept off air for a year "against our will" while less experienced candidates were hired. The women also allege they have not been paid equally compared to their male counterparts, with a gap of around £36,000 per year in pensionable salary as of February 2023.

Why this matters: This case represents a high-profile tribunal faced by the BBC and follows other landmark gender pay disputes between the broadcaster and presenters like Samira Ahmed and Sarah Montague. It highlights ongoing concerns about equal pay and fair treatment for women in the media industry.

The BBC denies the claims and says the application process was "rigorous and fair", with at least five other applicants scoring better than the four women. An internal HR investigation concluded that successful candidates were not promised their jobs before the open hiring procedure. However, the claimants say they have a whistleblower statement supporting their allegations that the process was predetermined.

Croxall stated in her witness statement that "discrimination is baked into BBC pay structures" and that the BBC "grinds you down" and "breaks you" during equal pay disputes. The women say they have submitted reports from clinical psychologists showing the negative physical and mental health impacts they have suffered. A preliminary hearing has been held, laying the groundwork for a full tribunal against the corporation at a later date.

Key Takeaways

• 4 senior BBC journalists allege age/sex discrimination in chief presenter roles
• Claim job application process was a "sham" and they suffered pay disparity
• Allege they were kept off air for a year while less experienced candidates hired
• BBC denies claims, says application process was "rigorous and fair"
• Case highlights ongoing concerns about equal pay and fair treatment for women in media