The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of failing to promote a white male employee because of his race or sex. The suit, lodged on Tuesday, claims the employee was passed over for the role of deputy real estate editor despite being 'significantly' more qualified than other candidates.
According to the complaint, the employee had worked as an editor at the Times since 2014 and served as senior staff editor on the international desk for over nine years. He was not selected as a finalist for the position, which went to Monica Burton, a journalist from Vox Media. The lawsuit alleges that no white males were among the four finalists, and that the Times' diversity aspirations led to unlawful discrimination.
The newspaper has rejected the allegations, calling them 'politically motivated' and part of a pressure campaign by the Trump administration. In a statement, a Times spokesperson said the company's hiring practices are merit-based and that neither race nor gender influenced the decision. The Times vowed to 'vigorously' defend itself.
The case marks a new front in tensions between the media and the current administration, with the EEOC's action coming amid broader scrutiny of diversity initiatives at major news organisations.
