EEOC Sues NYT Over Alleged Bias in Promotion

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging that the newspaper discriminated against a white male employee by passing him over for promotion due to his race or sex. According to the complaint, the employee believed he was significantly more qualified than Monica Burton, who was ultimately awarded the position of deputy real estate editor in January 2025.

The lawsuit claims that the Times sought to increase diversity in its leadership and that the employee's lack of selection for a finalist role was due to his not matching the desired race or sex characteristics. The EEOC found 'reasonable cause' that the Times violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

The New York Times has categorically rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated. A spokesperson for the Times stated that their employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world. The newspaper plans to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.

This lawsuit comes amid a broader pushback against diversity initiatives by the Trump administration. Last week, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), cited an investigation into diversity efforts at Disney as the basis for calling up early renewal broadcast licenses held by eight television stations owned and operated by ABC.

The EEOC lawsuit follows a pattern of actions taken against media companies' employment practices. In October 2023, CBS News 'gutted' its race and culture unit as part of broader layoffs. Additionally, Skydance promised to end diversity-focused programs at CBS parent Paramount as a pre-condition for FCC approval of its merger.