In defense of Matt Lauer
I underestimated the Matt Lauer's fan base. To illustrate women's wage gap, I wrote in my column in the Miami Herald that Meredith Vieira will make $2 million less a year as co-anchor of the Today Show. She has just as much experience on ABC (if two different time slots for that matter, The View in the morning and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire at night) and she will work the same hours as Lauer. But her paycheck will be smaller. It doesn't seem fair. Yet, I am inundated with e-mail from men who don't agree.
Here's one man's argument: "Is it relevant that Matt Lauer might deserve more because for a dozen years he has cultivated an audience for the Today show, whereas Vieira has not?
Here's another: Could it be that Matt Lauer earns more $$ because he has been doing his job longer than the newly designated co-host?
If the Herald hired me to do a job similar to yours and i was to start in a week, absent relevant experience, do you think the Knight folks would pay me as much as they pay you? I doubt it.
My argument:Vieira has as much experience as Lauer and she has cultivated an audience in two time slots. She will be working the same hours and have the same responsibilities. I hold my ground. She deserves more money.
Here's one man's argument: "Is it relevant that Matt Lauer might deserve more because for a dozen years he has cultivated an audience for the Today show, whereas Vieira has not?
Here's another: Could it be that Matt Lauer earns more $$ because he has been doing his job longer than the newly designated co-host?
If the Herald hired me to do a job similar to yours and i was to start in a week, absent relevant experience, do you think the Knight folks would pay me as much as they pay you? I doubt it.
My argument:Vieira has as much experience as Lauer and she has cultivated an audience in two time slots. She will be working the same hours and have the same responsibilities. I hold my ground. She deserves more money.
posted by Cindy Goodman at 3:15 PM
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3 Comments:
Women do tend to be paid less for doing the same job as a man, but I don't think that is the case here. I'm sorry, but a game show and a fluff talk show carrying the same weight as a morning anchor? Please.
Speaking as a woman who has earned her salary increases over the course of 10 years in the same organization, I would be insulted if a new person were brought in to and identical position at the same salary.
There have to be more important issues to debate than arguing about the payroll of talking heads on the Today Show.
I agree that we need payroll equity, but don't think this is the banner case.
A better question is: "When will NBC air the news?"
If she deserves more, then she should fire her agent who negotiated the deal. The notion that she's getting less because she's a woman is, er, silly.
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