White male editor suing NY Times because he was – Business News
A bombshell court docket submitting within the federal discrimination case in opposition to the New York Times has publicly recognized the newsroom figures on the middle of the explosive DEI lawsuit — together with the white male editor who claims he was denied a promotion because of his race and intercourse.
Bryant Rousseau, a veteran editor and producer on the Times’ worldwide desk, is recognized within the submitting as the worker who alleges the Gray Lady handed him over for a deputy real-estate editor place in favor of a “multiracial black woman” to fulfill range targets, in accordance with the grievance.
The submitting additionally names Monica Burton, the former Eater deputy editor who was employed for the position; Nikita Stewart, the Times’ real-estate editor who allegedly oversaw the hiring course of; and expertise supervisor Soraya Gunnell, who allegedly helped screen candidates and interview Rousseau.
Monica Burton has been recognized as the lady who was employed by the New York Times as deputy real-estate editor, allegedly because of her race and gender, in accordance with a discrimination grievance. Monica Burton / Facebook
EEOC legal professionals, writing on Rousseau’s behalf, mentioned the longtime Times editor was repeatedly praised in efficiency opinions as “superb” and “a linchpin of our desk” — but nonetheless didn’t make it previous the primary spherical of interviews for the deputy real-estate editor position.
The grievance alleges the job as a substitute went to a “significantly less qualified multiracial black woman” who ranked amongst “the two lowest rated candidates out of the four finalists.”
According to the submitting, one interviewer concluded the eventual rent was “a bit green overall” and wrote: “I don’t see her contributing to the expansion of the coverage in a significant way.”
The identities had beforehand been withheld in earlier EEOC filings and media stories.
Nikita Stewart, the New York Times editor who oversaw the paper’s real-estate desk, was recognized in a court docket submitting accusing the Gray Lady of passing over a white male to fulfill range targets. C-Span
Rousseau has labored on the Times for more than a decade as a senior editor and producer on the worldwide desk, in accordance with public profiles and the submitting.
The grievance paints Rousseau as a deeply skilled journalism veteran with specialised real-estate protection credentials. It alleges he possessed “all requirements” for the deputy real-estate editor position, together with direct expertise protecting structure, design and housing points.
Burton, in contrast, got here from Vox Media food website Eater, the place she coated eating places, food coverage and tradition from 2017 via 2025 earlier than becoming a member of the Times this 12 months. Prior to Eater, Burton was one of the founding editors of Time Inc.’s breakfast-focused digital publication “Extra Crispy,” in accordance with her Eater biography.
The submitting alleges Burton lacked important real-estate journalism expertise and was ranked under different finalists during the hiring course of.
The Times has strongly denied wrongdoing and mentioned Burton was “the most qualified candidate.”
Stewart introduced Burton’s hiring on LinkedIn final 12 months. Nikita Stewart / Linkedin
Stewart — one other key determine now publicly named — is a longtime Times journalist who joined the paper in 2014 after more than 9 years on the Washington Post. She beforehand coated homelessness, poverty and New York City authorities for the Metro desk and later rose to develop into editor of the Real Estate part.
Stewart can also be the writer of “Troop 6000,” a nonfiction e book about a Girl Scout troop for homeless ladies.
According to the grievance, Stewart and Gunnell oversaw the hiring course of for the deputy editor opening. The lawsuit claims no white males superior to the ultimate interview panel. It additional alleges the Times’ inner DEI targets influenced newsroom management choices.
The EEOC submitting repeatedly cites the company’s public range pledges, together with its 2021 “Call to Action” initiative that aimed to increase black and Latino management illustration.
The Times has blasted the lawsuit as politically motivated.
The Times has denied the allegations that race and gender have been the figuring out elements in Burton’s hiring. Getty Images
“The New York Times categorically rejects the politically motivated allegations brought by the Trump administration’s EEOC,” company spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha beforehand mentioned.
“Neither race nor gender played a role in this decision – we hired the most qualified candidate, and she is an excellent editor.”
“Our employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world.”
The Post has sought remark from Rousseau.
