{"id":43179,"date":"2026-08-13T13:51:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T08:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43179"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T08:51:44","slug":"itn-journalist-exited-with-payoff-after-he-suffered-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43179","title":{"rendered":"ITN Journalist Exited With Payoff After He Suffered Discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/itn\/\" id=\"auto-tag_itn\" data-tag=\"itn\">ITN<\/a> is facing fresh questions about its workplace culture after an external review concluded that a journalist suffered disability discrimination when raising concerns about his working environment, Deadline can reveal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo, a pseudonym we are using to protect the identity of the journalist, left ITN in April with a \u201csignificant\u201d undisclosed financial settlement after a tumultuous conclusion to his 12-year-long career at the company, where he was once recognized as a rising star and secured Royal Television Society award nominations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN is the respected British production outfit behind <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/itv\/\" id=\"auto-tag_itv\" data-tag=\"itv\">ITV<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/channel-4\/\" id=\"auto-tag_channel-4\" data-tag=\"channel-4\">Channel 4<\/a> and Paramount-owned 5\u2019s news services, as well as hit Netflix documentaries, such as <em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/the-investigation-of-lucy-letby\/\" id=\"auto-tag_the-investigation-of-lucy-letby\" data-tag=\"the-investigation-of-lucy-letby\">The Investigation of Lucy Letby<\/a><\/em>. But in recent years it has been dogged by questions about its culture, approach to complaints handling, and use of non-disclosure agreements.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2024, a review by law firm Simmons &amp; Simmons concluded that there was \u201clow trust and psychological safety\u201d within parts of ITN, according to a summary seen by Deadline. Some employees complained that they were reluctant to speak out, fearing that it could impact their wellbeing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo\u2019s story thrusts these issues back into the spotlight, not least because the external HR consultant engaged by ITN to improve workplace conditions and provide management training was deemed to have discriminated against Leo, albeit unintentionally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN said the wellbeing of its employees was \u201cparamount,\u201d and that it investigates concerns fairly and has learned from past mistakes. The company strongly refutes the way the events involving Leo have been characterized, but said it could not comment on individuals. ITN did not admit any liability as part of Leo\u2019s exit agreement, per documents seen by Deadline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo, who did not sign an NDA after leaving ITN, has a history of mental health issues. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after reporting on the terror attack on an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017. Then in 2023, he was signed off work and hospitalized with depression.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN gave Leo access to trauma support and private therapy, but has admitted to shortcomings in handling his mental health after his 2023 breakdown. This included breaching his privacy in July 2024 when an HR executive shared sensitive information about his condition without Leo\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In interviews with Deadline, Leo said the deterioration of his working relationship with a senior colleague sparked a chain of events that led to his departure, including Leo himself facing a gross misconduct investigation. Deadline is not disclosing the identity of the senior colleague or the ITN division in which Leo worked.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo alleged that the relationship breakdown was exacerbated by a power imbalance that resulted in him becoming isolated at work. This was disputed by other sources familiar with the situation, who did not recognize the power dynamic described by Leo. The sources added that the relationship breakdown also provoked serious concerns about the wellbeing of the senior colleague.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1237031917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=178,100 178w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=125,70 125w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=910,511 910w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=681,383 681w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=450,253 450w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=250,140 250w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=296,166 296w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=248,139 248w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=200,112 200w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=270,152 270w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=60,34 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=352,198 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=110,62 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=285,160 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Audio-Suite-edited.jpg?resize=800,450 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ITN facilities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In November 2024, Leo wrote an email to his senior colleague detailing his misgivings about their working relationship, as well as expressing concerns to managers and HR. The correspondence triggered an ITN investigation, which was overseen by a representative from People Puzzles, an external HR consultancy drafted in to improve ITN\u2019s people management and complaints procedures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo told ITN he did not want or expect the matters to be formally investigated. He feared that the investigation could be weighted in favor of his colleague because of their seniority, despite receiving assurances that this was not the case. The senior colleague was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, but Leo claimed that the investigation was flawed because of its focus on his mental illness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Leo Subject To \u201cDisadvantages\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His subsequent complaint about ITN\u2019s investigation was examined as part of an external review by Kane HR, per a report seen by Deadline. Kane HR concluded that the ITN\u2019s investigation \u201cinappropriately strayed\u201d into a discussion about Leo\u2019s mental wellbeing and its impact on the workplace, instead of focusing on fact-finding.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy view is that [the] employee was subjected to some disadvantages in the investigation process, based on his disability, and it could have been conducted in a fairer and more conciliatory way,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kane HR concluded that Leo\u2019s experience was \u201cdiscriminatory,\u201d though stressed that this was not done intentionally and that no \u201cstatutory requirements\u201d were breached by the People Puzzles consultant. The Kane HR report said the original investigation\u2019s recommendations were \u201ccomprehensive and reasonable,\u201d but added that there were elements of Leo\u2019s experience that \u201cmay have been appropriate to investigate further.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo submitted his written statement after the original investigation had closed, telling ITN he was too unwell to meet earlier deadlines set by the People Puzzles consultant. Kane HR said another deadline extension would have been a \u201creasonable adjustment\u201d given the \u201cknowledge of his ill health.\u201d Once the statement was received, the People Puzzles consultant\u2019s view was that it did not change the outcome of the investigation, which absolved the senior colleague.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN stands by the findings of the original investigation, despite admitting that the process was flawed. In a June 2025 email to Leo, ITN\u2019s general counsel Zaffrin O\u2019Sullivan wrote: \u201cThe company accepts the findings set out in the report and acknowledges and apologises for the instances in which [Kane HR] has found that the original investigation fell short of the standards which you were entitled to expect having raised concerns.\u201d She later told him that it was a \u201cred line\u201d moment for ITN, according to Leo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People Puzzles, which did not respond to a request for comment, is no longer engaged by ITN.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Leo Launches Lawsuit; ITN Opens Probe<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the investigations, ITN and Leo established a framework for his continued employment, but he argued that the arrangements diluted his role and responsibilities, leaving him isolated and vulnerable to losing his job. Leo\u2019s former co-workers told Deadline that it was a complex situation for all involved. These ITN insiders said the relationship breakdown, and subsequent working framework, created confusion about responsibilities and was difficult to navigate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In December 2025, Leo filed an employment tribunal lawsuit against ITN, claiming discrimination arising from his disability. Within weeks, the company launched its own investigation into Leo\u2019s conduct, citing concerns that he went on a reporting assignment without permission, published an article on Substack without approval, and made a comment to a manager that was perceived as a threat to report his superior to HR. The review concluded that Leo\u2019s actions amounted to gross misconduct and he would face disciplinary action, according to a document seen by Deadline.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo denied wrongdoing and told Deadline that the investigation felt like a retaliatory \u201cfishing expedition\u201d designed to gather evidence ahead of a potential legal battle. Leo claimed that he was not allowed to call his own witnesses as part of an investigation, which ITN insiders dispute, even though all those interviewed were his superiors. Leo added that he was never shown the terms of reference and the investigation report made no substantive allowances for his mental health or previous experience of discrimination.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a letter to ITN, Leo\u2019s therapist said the investigation had a \u201cprofound psychological\u201d impact on the journalist. \u201cWhere an individual already experiences the workplace as unsafe, unsupportive, or punitive after raising concerns, the escalation of formal processes can be profoundly destabilising,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo\u2019s attorney argued that the ITN investigation was a \u201cfurther act of discrimination\u201d and was evidence that his working relationship had \u201cirretrievably broken down,\u201d per a letter seen by Deadline. Proposing an exit deal that would involve Leo dropping his lawsuit, the lawyer added: \u201cMy client cannot now, in good conscience, remain in a working environment that is making him unwell and poses further risk to his mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leo left in April with an undisclosed payoff as part of an agreement that settled his lawsuit, but he has continued to raise concerns about his experience. \u201cI just wouldn\u2019t want anyone else to go through this,\u201d Leo told Deadline. \u201cI believed in [ITN], and I believed in its journalistic principles. It was my dream place to work and to then have the experience that I had was just beyond devastating.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN insiders shared concerns about the company\u2019s HR processes, but they told Deadline that it would have been a complex situation to navigate, even for an extremely skilled and experienced people management professional.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ITN spokesperson told Deadline: \u201cWhen a concern is raised we consider it promptly, thoroughly and fairly in view of everyone involved. The wellbeing of all our staff is paramount, and where shortcomings to HR processes have been identified in the past we have learnt from them and always seek continual improvement. While we strongly refute the way these events have been characterised, it would not be appropriate to comment on individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"576\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1237031911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg 2173w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=178,100 178w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=125,70 125w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=660,370 660w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=1000,563 1000w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=910,511 910w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=681,383 681w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=450,253 450w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=250,140 250w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=296,166 296w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=248,139 248w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=200,112 200w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=270,152 270w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=60,34 60w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=352,198 352w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=110,62 110w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=285,160 285w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2115620191-edited.jpg?resize=800,450 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN\u2019s culture was a subject of discussion in UK Parliament in March 2025. MP Layla Moran used parliamentary privilege to tell the story of a female employee, who was allegedly suspended after complaining about a \u201ccoercive, controlling sexual relationship with an older male editor.\u201d Moran claimed that the woman was prevented from speaking about her experience because of an NDA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More recently, former 5 News presenter Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije sued ITN over allegations of sexism, racial harassment, unfair dismissal, and suffering a detriment due to exercising her whistleblowing rights. The case was settled before going to court, with ITN denying wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ITN has since installed Ian Rumsey as its new CEO, replacing Rachel Corp in May. The company\u2019s HR team has also been restructured following the Simmons &amp; Simmons review, while internal employee resources for reporting concerns have been strengthened. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE: ITN is facing fresh questions about its workplace culture after an external review concluded that a journalist suffered disability discrimination when raising concerns about his working environment, Deadline can reveal. Leo, a pseudonym we are using to protect the identity of the journalist, left ITN in April with a \u201csignificant\u201d undisclosed financial settlement after&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ITN_Rudd_Studio_16x9_40_sfw.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}