UK, April 16, 2002: White male journalists rule the BBC’s World Service with a “colonial mentality” that embarrassed and demeaned ethnic minority colleagues, an employment tribunal was told yesterday. An Asian journalist, Sharan Sandhu, 51, claimed that she was repeatedly passed over for promotion between 1994 and 1999 because of her race and sex. The tribunal in central London heard that Sandhu suffered depression and stress at having to endure a “boys’ club” culture in which ethnic minority staff were deliberately kept in junior posts. Sandhu, who is alleging direct and indirect discrimination, told the first day of the hearing that her workplace was dominated by white male journalists. Sandhu said other staff made derogatory comments about Hindus after telephone conversations with them, suggesting they did not understand what was going on or would make mistakes. She said these comments were made in front of colleagues from other departments to no objections. “No one would pick them up on that and it was embarrassing.” The BBC denies discrimination and the hearing continues.
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