LA Times, Tribune Settle Pay Discrimination Suit

The Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing have jointly agreed to pay $3 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by multi-ethnic group of journalists who claimed that they were systematically paid less than their white male counterparts.

The NY Post reports the settlement is the latest in a series of race-related turmoil that’s roiled the publishing world amid nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May.

The suit, which staffers filed in June shortly after protests began, covers nearly 240 current and former reporters and editors who will now be eligible for compensation if they were employed by the company between Feb. 14, 2015, to Oct. 26, 2020.

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge David Cohn gave preliminary approval to the proposed settlement to claims of gender, race and ethnic discrimination, the LA Times reported.

Black and Latino reporters, copy editors and line editors as well as all women reporters and editors were covered by preliminary settlement. Cohn is expected to give final approval in March.