BBC gender-pay-gap controversy

The BBC gender pay gap controversy refers to a series of incidents in 2017 and 2018.

Initial revelations

In July 2017, in response to a demand from the UK government as a condition of its new royal charter, the BBC published a list of all employees who earned more than £150,000.[1][2][a] Of the 96 BBC employees making over this threshold, 62 were men and 34 were women, and of the seven highest earners, all were men.[1][3] The disclosure prompted criticism of the BBC over the gender pay gap; other critics also criticised a lack of ethnic diversity among the highest-earning BBC personalities.[2][3][4] Some commentators, however, argued that the mandatory disclosures were an effort by Theresa May's government to undermine the BBC.[5]

Carrie Gracie resigns as China editor

Early in January 2018, it was announced that Carrie Gracie, the BBC's China editor, had resigned from the role because of the salary gender disparity.[6] A pre-broadcast conversation between Today presenter John Humphrys and Jon Sopel, the BBC's North America editor, was leaked a few days later. Humphrys was recorded joking about the disparity. BBC management itself was said to be "deeply unimpressed" with Humphrys comments.[7] Because of the BBC's impartiality rules, Woman's Hour presenter Jane Garvey, a prominent advocate of equal pay at the BBC, was unable to conduct an interview with Gracie on the programme, while You and Yours presenter Winifred Robinson was briefly taken off-air for tweeting her support for Gracie.[8] More than a fortnight later, it was reported Conservative Culture minister Tracey Crouch, and other female MPs, have refused to be interviewed by Humphrys in response to his comments about Gracie's resignation.[9] Although reported by Anushka Asthana, co-political editor of The Guardian, and other media sources, Crouch has not commented about the issue.[9]

Male presenters pay cut

It became known on 26 January 2018 that some of the BBC's leading male presenters would take a pay cut. According to the BBC's media editor Amol Rajan, Huw Edwards, John Humphrys, Nick Robinson, Jon Sopel and Jeremy Vine, have agreed to a salary reduction. Nicky Campbell, radio 5 live presenter, also told his listeners that he would be taking a pay cut. An independent audit investigating equal pay at the BBC is due shortly.[10]

Notes

1. The list included only compensation paid directly from BBC's license fees; payments from BBC Worldwide and payments made through independent production firms were not included.[1][2]

References

1. Graham Ruddick, BBC pay: key questions behind the disclosures, The Guardian (19 July 2017)
2. BBC pay: Male stars earn more than female talent, BBC News (19 July 2017).
3. Amanda Proença Santos, BBC's List of Top-Paid Stars Sparks Controversy Over Pay Gap, Lack of Diversity, NBC News (19 July 2017).
4. Stewart Clarke, BBC Reveals Stars' Salaries Amid Controversy Over Pay for Women, Variety.
5. Steven Barnett, Unveiling BBC talent's pay is a deliberate attempt to undermine a great British institution, The Conversation (19 July 2017).
6. "BBC China editor Carrie Gracie quits post in equal pay row". BBC News. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
7. Batchelor, Tom (12 January 2018). "John Humphrys joked about gender pay gap after BBC China editor Carrie Gracie resigned, leaked tape reveals". The Independent. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
8. "Radio 4 host Winifred Robinson taken off air after tweet backing Carrie Gracie". BBC News. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
9. Asthana, Anushka (25 January 2018). "Tory minister declines John Humphrys interview overpay comments". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
10. "Some BBC male presenters agree pay cut". BBC News. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.