Men are earning more than women across most major regional publishing groups according to new data supplied by the companies.
Regional publishers have revealed their gender pay gaps for 2017 in accordance with regulations requiring companies with more than 250 employees to publish the data by 4 April.
The figures, published on a new government website, show men earn more than women at most of the big groups.
But figures from Mold-based NWN Media, which was bought by Newsquest during 2017, showed women get a higher mean hourly rate than men.
Newsquest’s figures are split, with the company also submitting statistics under Newsquest Media Group, Newsquest (Herald & Times) and Newsquest (Midlands South) as well as NWN.
For these purposes, Newsquest Media Group includes the bulk of employees in the group, and includes those working on the Northern Echo, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, Bolton News and Lancashire Telegraph.
Trinity Mirror’s figures are also split into three divisions covering Local World, Media Scotland and Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
The full figures are as follows:
Company | Women’s mean hourly rate compared to men’s (pc) | Women’s median hourly rate compared to men’s (pc) |
Archant | -11.1 | -6.4 |
Johnston Press | -15.1 | -13.9 |
Midland News Association | -10.2 | -3.1 |
Newsquest | ||
Newsquest Media Group | -12 | -7 |
Newsquest (Herald & Times) | -18 | -17 |
Newsquest (Midlands South) | -2 | -4 |
NWN Media | 13.2 | -85.2 |
Trinity Mirror | ||
Local World | -5.8 | -7.1 |
Media Scotland | -19.4 | -15.5 |
MGN | -17.8 | -20.7 |
That’s grossly unfair to women who should be paid the same for doing like for like jobs.
Report this comment
I assume a Johnston Press representative will be on here shortly to explain why these disgraceful figures are the case. Or maybe an MD or editor might be brave enough to put their head above the parapet to give us the details. It could happen.
Report this comment
As a firm believer in equal pay for equal abilities and never mind the gender, I find these figures absolutely appalling.
However – and I can only speak for our newsroom – the majority of reporting/newsdesk staff are female. Any of their male colleagues who have left recently have either not been replaced or replaced by a woman.
Which begs the question: Are my employers deliberately hiring women over men because women are cheaper and it is another way of saving money in these cash-stressed days? And if so, is that not some form of discrimination? Just a thought.
Report this comment
Not at all surprised. In the two decades I worked on the production side not a single woman sub was ever on the top table. Asking for opportunities just made the situation worse. I recall one instance where a young man joined the team and was on the top table within three weeks. He’d never worked on a newspaper before. Ironically, just before I took voluntary redundancy, there were so few subs left that I was allowed to be in charge of production on a Sunday rota. I did a good job but what a waste to the company of my talents over those years.
Report this comment