View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Harriet Harman asks newspapers to reveal number of older women they employ

By Gavriel Hollander

Harriet Harman has written to national newspaper editors asking them to reveal how many women over the age of 50 they employ.

The letter, sent to all 16 national papers as well as the London Evening Standard, also asks what percentage of women of any age the papers employ, how many women over 50 they have covering politics and how many have senior editorial positions.

It also asks similar questions about their rosters of freelance writers.

Harman said: “I’m writing to national newspaper editors to ask them to be open about the number of older women working in UK newspapers.

“We see the world through news and comment in our newspapers so a balanced team which includes older women is needed to report the world as they see it. Equality is not just important in principle – it is important for the quality of newspaper reporting and comment.”

The deputy Labour leader and shadow culture secretary published a report in May which showed that  18 per cent of broadcasters were women over 50.

She has repeated her call on culture secretary Maria Miller to enforce the “dual discrimination” clause in the 2010 Equality Act, introduced during the last Labour government. The clause allows employees to bring discrimination claims if they have received unfair treatment on two protected characteristics, such as age and gender, where a claim on one ground could not be brought.

Content from our partners
Unified solution offers publishers unrivalled print and digital efficiency
How DPG Media invested in print technology to help it focus on digital
How to make sure you are social media ready for job hunting

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network