Guardian newspaper branded 'institutionally RACIST' as editors accused of attempting to cover-up slavery links

Audio producers have complained about treatment they received from the media outlet
Audio producers have complained about treatment they received from the media outlet
John Stillwell
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 26/01/2023

- 12:29

Updated: 26/01/2023

- 12:30

The newspaper has been working on an editorial project based on connections between its founder, John Edward Taylor, and transatlantic slavery

The Guardian has been accused of “institutional racism” by podcast producers who had been working with the media outlet on a project addressing its past links to the slave trade.

The newspaper has been working on an editorial project based on connections between its founder, John Edward Taylor, and transatlantic slavery.


Three producers who worked on a podcast as part of the series complained in writing last year to The Guardian about the treatment afforded to them while working on the project.

The individuals, including one award-winning audio producer, sent an email on Monday to a number of professionals detailing their allegations after hearing that The Guardian was seeking to finish off the project.

The email, seen by Deadline, said: “A key issue was the lack of any serious desire from The Guardian to face and interrogate its own historic role, what that has meant for its journalism to date and what accountability might look like in the future.

“This left room for micro aggressions, colourist, bullying, passive-aggressive and obstructive management styles that have caused frustration and stress for members of the production team.

“The institution is now looking for other producers to finish our work and has ignored our concerns.

“The outcome of this project is a huge indictment of the paper. The irony of dealing with institutional racism, editorial whiteness and ignorance on a project about the legacies of slavery hasn’t been lost on us — and deeply undermines the integrity of the project.”

The paper was renamed The Guardian in 1959
The paper was renamed The Guardian in 1959
Jonathan Brady

The Manchester Guardian was founded by Taylor in 1821, who edited it until his death in 1844.

It was then was renamed The Guardian in 1959.

Owners of the newspaper, The Scott Trust, launched a review into Taylor’s slavery links while saying there was no evidence that he owned slaves or was directly involved in the trade.

Producers working on the podcast said they were keen to outline their allegations due to them being aware of other black producers who had been approached about potentially working on the series.

They said in the email: “Our experiences are often buried, and production companies are able to continue as though nothing has happened and repeat the same harm whilst using our labour for kudos.”

They said a team of Guardian editors “mismanaged” the podcast despite “numerous attempts to have good-faith conversations”.

The producers revealed they wrote a formal letter of complaint to their editors, saying they were “ignored for weeks and minimised” before being offered “ineffective” mediation sessions.

The email added: “We were routinely undermined, unsupported and deeply frustrated by the absence of journalistic rigour and critical attention to history from a global news organisation.

“We had hoped to make a series to contribute towards shifting discourse away from the kinds of reductive conversations about race and capitalism that are usually commissioned in our industry.”

A Guardian spokesman said: “The Guardian has been working on a significant editorial project relating to its own history which is to be published soon. The project is being led by a diverse team of experienced and respected Guardian editors, with close involvement from a large number of colleagues and experts who also represent diverse perspectives.

“We are concerned that some former colleagues and contributors have not had a good experience working with us, but we are disappointed they have chosen to write a partial reflection of their time at The Guardian. We always take any concerns raised with us seriously and we acted immediately to respond to the individuals, including by offering a mediation process, which took place with a mediator chosen by the individuals themselves.

“The project is largely complete and will not pull any punches in terms of transparency. It will be published in the next few months, and we then look forward to discussing it with readers and colleagues.”

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