LONDON (Bywire News) - In a twist of irony that could only be scripted by reality itself, a female journalist found out live on air that she wasn't being paid for her contribution to a Sky News debate on misogyny. Moya Lothian-McLean, a contributing editor at Novara Media, was left stunned when she discovered that her male counterpart, Connor Tomlinson of GB News, was remunerated for his appearance, while she was not.
Lothian-McLean took to Twitter to share her disbelief: "The man arguing that society isn't structurally unequal for women was getting paid to appear in a 'debate' about misogyny, and I wasn't." The revelation came as a jolt, especially considering the debate followed a series of offensive comments made by GB News presenter Laurence Fox about political journalist Ava Evans.
In a subsequent update, Lothian-McLean disclosed that she had been offered £75, while Tomlinson had been offered £200. The timing of this offer remains ambiguous—whether it was made post-broadcast, after the pay discrepancy was highlighted, is yet unclear.
In a gesture of defiance, Lothian-McLean announced she would donate £200 to Beyond Equality, a charity campaigning against gender-based stereotypes.
Sky News, in response, stated that they have a "standard contributors fee for these type of broadcast appearances, with contributors taking part receiving the same amount." They have since apologised to Lothian-McLean, assuring that both contributors will now receive an equal fee.
The Backdrop: A Growing Controversy
This incident adds fuel to the already blazing fire of controversy surrounding offensive comments made by Fox and his colleague Wootton. Fox's derogatory remarks about Ava Evans led to multiple complaints and an ongoing Ofcom investigation. Prominent voices, including Conservative MP Caroline Nokes and broadcaster Adam Boulton, have called for the revocation of GB News' broadcasting licence.
The Takeaway
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the systemic issues that still plague media and public discourse. While the debate was intended to shed light on the mistreatment of women in media, it inadvertently exposed the very inequalities it aimed to discuss. It's a wake-up call that the journey towards gender equality is far from over, even in spaces that purport to interrogate these very issues.
So, as we tune in to debates that promise to enlighten us on social inequalities, let's also keep an eye on the structures that host these discussions. Because sometimes, the most telling truths are the ones inadvertently revealed.
(Michael O'Sullivan)