The case of a freelance journalist and media consultant who claimed sex discrimination by independent production company RDF Media has been settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, ahead of a tribunal scheduled for this week.
Tim Arnold was employed by the company last year to appear as a journalism tutor in an episode of its awardwinning factual programme Faking It.
But RDF later withdrew its offer of employment to Arnold, deciding to replace him with a female tutor, citing “editorial issues” for the change.
Emily Jones, an associate producer on Faking It, had earlier told Arnold he was “perfectly qualified” to teach the candidate.
Arnold, represented by NUJ lawyers Thompsons, had initially considered suing RDF for breach of contract and sex discrimination, but took the company to an industrial tribunal set for 17 and 18 May.
Prevented from discussing the case under the terms of the settlement, Arnold issued a statement thanking the NUJ and Thompsons lawyer Rakesh Patel.
“The amount of union subscriptions I pay in a year would not buy me an hour of a top lawyer’s time, yet I have had superb access to some of the best employment lawyers in the country,” he said.
“I am sure the legal services that the NUJ provides are second to none. I am most grateful.”
By Wale Azeez
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