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| Female BBC journalists 'belittled' by chiefs over pay, Rachel Burden says | Female BBC journalists 'belittled' by chiefs over pay, Rachel Burden says |
| (11 days later) | |
| Rachel Burden, the co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show, has said female journalists were “ignored or belittled” when they asked senior managers whether they were paid the same as comparable male colleagues. | Rachel Burden, the co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show, has said female journalists were “ignored or belittled” when they asked senior managers whether they were paid the same as comparable male colleagues. |
| Burden said the gender pay row that has engulfed the BBC since it published a list of its top earners last week has been brewing “for a number of years”. | Burden said the gender pay row that has engulfed the BBC since it published a list of its top earners last week has been brewing “for a number of years”. |
| Female journalists at the BBC had held concerns about the pay gap for a long time, she said in a comment piece for the Guardian, adding: “In many cases, senior managers were directly asked whether women were on the same pay as comparable male colleagues. Few enquiries had a satisfactory outcome – the female journalists were either ignored or belittled.” | Female journalists at the BBC had held concerns about the pay gap for a long time, she said in a comment piece for the Guardian, adding: “In many cases, senior managers were directly asked whether women were on the same pay as comparable male colleagues. Few enquiries had a satisfactory outcome – the female journalists were either ignored or belittled.” |
| The BBC’s list revealed that one-third of its top earners were women and the top seven were all men, with male co-presenters frequently earning more than their female colleagues. More than 40 of the BBC’s most high-profile women, including Burden, wrote to Tony Hall, the director general, calling on him to urgently correct the gender pay gap. | The BBC’s list revealed that one-third of its top earners were women and the top seven were all men, with male co-presenters frequently earning more than their female colleagues. More than 40 of the BBC’s most high-profile women, including Burden, wrote to Tony Hall, the director general, calling on him to urgently correct the gender pay gap. |
| Burden, who was not on the BBC’s list, said her pay was about £130,000, while her co-presenter Nicky Campbell was paid more than £400,000. However, she said Campbell had been presenting on network radio for 30 years and his public profile was “much greater” than hers after presenting on Radio 1 and the TV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. | Burden, who was not on the BBC’s list, said her pay was about £130,000, while her co-presenter Nicky Campbell was paid more than £400,000. However, she said Campbell had been presenting on network radio for 30 years and his public profile was “much greater” than hers after presenting on Radio 1 and the TV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. |
| “Should we be on the same money? Probably not,” she said. “I have never argued for that. There has to be room for recognising experience and market value, I get that. I’ve known how much he is paid for some time – we’ve talked it over frequently and he’s been incredibly supportive of me throughout my career. In many ways I’ve directly benefited from working with him and learned from his skills as a broadcaster. But it’s a partnership, and we both rely on each other.” | “Should we be on the same money? Probably not,” she said. “I have never argued for that. There has to be room for recognising experience and market value, I get that. I’ve known how much he is paid for some time – we’ve talked it over frequently and he’s been incredibly supportive of me throughout my career. In many ways I’ve directly benefited from working with him and learned from his skills as a broadcaster. But it’s a partnership, and we both rely on each other.” |
| Burden said she wanted to “stand in solidarity” with her female colleagues and supported some form of independent pay audit across the BBC. In response to questions on social media about why Burden was complaining about pay when she earned a six-figure salary, she said: “My answer to that is simple – do you support equality in the workplace? If so, regardless of your pay or position, isn’t it right and proper to use your voice when you have one to encourage better working conditions for all your colleagues?” | Burden said she wanted to “stand in solidarity” with her female colleagues and supported some form of independent pay audit across the BBC. In response to questions on social media about why Burden was complaining about pay when she earned a six-figure salary, she said: “My answer to that is simple – do you support equality in the workplace? If so, regardless of your pay or position, isn’t it right and proper to use your voice when you have one to encourage better working conditions for all your colleagues?” |
| The Casualty actor Tom Chambers was criticised on Tuesday after he said many men’s salaries were for their families. He told the Sun: “My wife works really hard as a stay-at-home mum, but I’m the only one bringing in a salary for our family. Many men’s salaries aren’t just for them, it’s for their wife and children, too.” | The Casualty actor Tom Chambers was criticised on Tuesday after he said many men’s salaries were for their families. He told the Sun: “My wife works really hard as a stay-at-home mum, but I’m the only one bringing in a salary for our family. Many men’s salaries aren’t just for them, it’s for their wife and children, too.” |
| In response, the Labour MP Stella Creasy said on Twitter: “Guessing dancing in 1950s musicals has given Tom Chambers that kind of mindset too … #21stcenturycalling.” | In response, the Labour MP Stella Creasy said on Twitter: “Guessing dancing in 1950s musicals has given Tom Chambers that kind of mindset too … #21stcenturycalling.” |
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| Nicky Campbell | Nicky Campbell |
| Pay | Pay |
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