Media Professionals Sign Open Letter Expressing ‘Deep Concern’ Over Sangita Myska’s LBC Exit
Over 100 media professionals and personalities have rallied behind award-winning journalist Sangita Myska, the former LBC host whose abrupt absence from the airwaves and quiet dismissal has sparked protest.
An open letter penned by “colleagues, friends, supporters and allies” demands transparency from LBC over the dropping of Myska’s contract and expresses “deep concern” over her departure.
Notable signatories include ITV News anchor James Mates, Channel 4 News’ international editor Lindsey Hilsum, and Labour MP Zarah Sultana.
Audience speculation and concern first began when Myska was noted as inexplicably absent from her usual slot following a fiery April 15th interview with Israeli government spokesman Avi Hyman. Then, on May 1st, at the foot of a LBC press release welcoming former TalkTV host Vanessa Feltz to the station, the station noted that Myska’s contract would not be renewed after it expires in July.
In the letter, Myska’s media colleagues relflect on her professionalism: “Sangita’s journalistic record and professional integrity remains unimpeachable. Her approach is fair and balanced. She established a ‘rare rapport’ with her audience.”
The letter adds: “Diversity also matters. Sangita has used her platform to uplift underrepresented voices, mentor diverse talent, provide allyship to a wide range of communities, tell their stories, while challenging racist narratives and institutional bias with intelligence, wit, and lived experience.”
The letter also warns that Myska’s departure shows “excellent journalists are at risk for simply doing their job and asking robust questions.”
In other efforts, a viewer-led petition has collected more than 35,000 signatures urging LBC to bring back Myska. The issue even made a cameo in the recent local elections, with independent London Mayoral candidate, Count Binface, cryptically responding to an LBC reporter’s query about his electoral loss with: “Where is Sangita Myska?”
LBC has done little to manage the growing speculation and frustration. However, in response to a curious caller to his show, LBC host James O’Brien pushed back on what he said were “internet conspiracy theories” about Myska’s exit and attempted, in turn, to firmly iterate that all presenters “stand and fall” by their ratings when it comes to contract renewal.
Despite his best efforts to quell speculation, viewers and some media colleagues remain unsold and point to the fact that Myska’s overall audience had increased by 12.5 percent to 465,000. Deadline reported that LBC sources said executives pointed to Myska’s declining hourly listenership as a reason for the change.
