Media

Six male BBC journalists agree to pay cuts after unequal pay protest

Six male journalists at the BBC have agreed to reduced wages after the broadcaster’s China editor resigned after learning her male colleagues were earning more than her.

Nick Robinson, Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys, Nicky Campbell, Jon Sopel and Huw Edwards accepted pay cuts, according to the BBC.

“We are very grateful to Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine, who have agreed that their pay will now be reduced,” the news organization said in a statement.

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“These are great journalists and presenters, who have a real connection with the audience. We are proud to have them working at the BBC,” the statement continued.

BBC said the final details of the changes need to be discussed.

The broadcaster’s China editor Carrie Gracie stepped down from her post earlier this month after 30 years with the organization.

Gracie said the BBC is “not living up to its stated values of trust, honesty and accountability” when it comes to pay for men and women in similar positions.

“This is not the gender pay gap that the BBC admits to,” Gracie wrote. “It is not men earning more because they do more of the jobs which pay better. It is men earning more in the same jobs or jobs of equal value. It is pay discrimination and it is illegal.”

While Gracie stepped down from her position as an editor, she did not leave the BBC entirely and said she expects to be paid equally at her former post in the TV newsroom.