ITN Faces Workplace Culture Questions After External Review Finds Disability Discrimination Against Journalist "Leo"
ITN, the production company behind news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, is facing fresh scrutiny of its workplace culture after an external review concluded that a journalist suffered disability discrimination when raising concerns about his working environment.
The journalist, identified by the pseudonym Leo to protect his identity, left ITN in April after a 12-year career at the company. He departed with a significant undisclosed financial settlement, as revealed by Deadline. Leo did not sign a non-disclosure agreement, meaning he is free to discuss his experience.
Leo was once recognised as a rising star at ITN, with Royal Television Society award nominations to his name. His difficulties began with the after-effects of traumatic reporting. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after covering the 2017 terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. In 2023, he was signed off work and hospitalised with depression.
ITN gave Leo access to trauma support and private therapy but admitted shortcomings in handling his mental health after the 2023 breakdown. Those shortcomings included a breach of his privacy in July 2024, when an HR executive shared sensitive information about his condition without his consent.
The chain of events leading to Leo's departure began with a deteriorating working relationship with a senior colleague. Leo alleged the breakdown was worsened by a power imbalance that left him isolated at work — a claim other sources disputed, noting the situation also raised serious concerns about the senior colleague's own wellbeing.
In November 2024, Leo emailed his senior colleague detailing misgivings about their relationship and expressed concerns to managers and HR. That correspondence triggered an ITN investigation. Leo had told ITN he did not want or expect the matters to be formally investigated, fearing it could be weighted in his colleague's favour. The investigation was overseen by a representative from People Puzzles, an external HR consultancy brought in to improve ITN's people management and complaints procedures.
That external HR consultant was found to have discriminated against Leo, albeit unintentionally. The finding adds to existing concerns about ITN's workplace culture. In 2024, a separate review by law firm Simmons & Simmons concluded there was "low trust and psychological safety" within parts of the organisation, with some employees reluctant to speak out fearing it could affect their wellbeing.
ITN said employee wellbeing was "paramount" and that it investigates concerns fairly and has learned from past mistakes. The company strongly refuted how Leo's events were characterised and did not admit any liability as part of his exit agreement.
ITN produces news services for ITV, Channel 4 and the Paramount-owned Channel 5, as well as Netflix documentaries including The Investigation of Lucy Letby. The company's workplace practices therefore reach across a broad stretch of British broadcasting.
What makes this case unusual is the absence of a non-disclosure agreement. Most settlement exits in the media industry come with confidentiality clauses that keep the details private. Leo's decision not to sign one means the circumstances of his departure are now on the public record.
