Former CNN broadcast journalist Saima Mohsin has filed a lawsuit against the news channel, citing unfair dismissal and racial discrimination following a debilitating injury she sustained while on assignment in Israel. Mohsin, a British-Pakistani journalist, was left disabled after her cameraman accidentally ran over her foot with a car during her coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict in 2014. The incident resulted in severe tissue damage, making it difficult for her to sit, stand, walk, or resume full-time work.
Mohsin claims that she had requested alternative duties and support for rehabilitation from CNN after the accident, but her requests were denied. She also alleges that she had proposed transitioning to a presenting role to reduce travel time, only to be told that she did not have the desired appearance. Three years later, CNN terminated her contract.
https://twitter.com/SaimaMohsin/status/1678272953937457153
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the lack of support she received from the network after her life-altering injury, Mohsin decided to bring an employment tribunal claim. She emphasized her dedication to her work as an international correspondent for CNN and her belief that the network would provide support when needed, but she claims they did not.
In addition to the unfair dismissal claim, Mohsin’s lawsuit includes allegations of racial and disability discrimination, as well as a complaint regarding the gender pay gap at CNN. She asserts that she was denied high-profile on-air opportunities, with CNN’s managers choosing to feature white American correspondents even when she was ready to report live from the scene.
CNN has chosen not to comment on the allegations, and it is opposing the claim on the grounds of territorial jurisdiction. The network argues that the terms of Mohsin’s contract prevent her from bringing a case in London.
The timing of the lawsuit presents a challenge for CNN, as the news channel has recently faced significant job cuts and has been dealing with various scandals, missteps, and declining ratings in its primary US market. The departure of longtime boss Jeff Zucker due to a relationship with a colleague, as well as the subsequent short-lived tenure of his replacement Chris Licht, have added to the network’s challenges. Furthermore, CNN is currently undergoing a corporate restructuring within its parent company, Warner Bros Discovery.
Mohsin, who now freelances for Sky News and has produced a program for ITV focusing on living with invisible disabilities, is being represented by barristers Paras Gorasia and Jennifer Robinson of Doughty Street Chambers. Gorasia and Robinson previously acted on behalf of cricketer Azeem Rafiq in his claim against Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Highlighting the importance of journalist safety and addressing the treatment of women of color in journalism, Mohsin’s lawsuit raises crucial questions. She hopes that her case will bring attention to the experiences of foreign correspondents who travel around the world, risking their lives to report the news, with the expectation that their employers will prioritize their well-being.
“I’m also taking the opportunity to highlight the racism and gender pay gap issues that I experienced,” said Mohsin. “I was repeatedly let down and denied the ability to achieve my potential while I was at CNN. I am bringing my claim to take a stand and call for change to ensure women journalists, and women journalists of color, are better protected.”
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