BBC Facing Tide of Claims for Sex and Age Discrimination - Essay Example

This study discusses that figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in the past year there have been 12 cases brought by women alleging sexual discrimination at the corporation.This was up from nine in the year before and three in the year before that. There have also been a further three cases of ageism brought against the BBC by women in the last three years. The broadcaster refuses to say how many of these women it has given payments to stop an employment tribunal. But it is understood this has happened on several occasions in recent years and that is why these type of cases against the BBC have rarely if ever actually reached court.

The decision to drop Moira Stuart as a TV news reader was one of the most controversial examples of perceived sexism and ageism at the BBC in recent years. This was followed by the decision to axe Miss Phillips.This paper outlines that presenters such as Selina Scott, Anna Ford and Kate Adie have also attacked the BBC's attitude towards older women amid accusations it shunts females off screen once they reach a certain age. In 2008 Miss Scott won a payout, believed to have been about [pounds sterling]250,000, from Channel Five after she said she had been offered a newsreading job only for it to be given to two younger presenters.

Experts say the increase in cases could be because women have become emboldened to speak out against bosses or because the problems are actually getting worse.