The Matrix Project is an effort to document personal factors that undermine powerful journalists’ claims of objectivity and impartiality. Are factors such as an elite education, establishment connections, personal wealth and interests in rival fields compatible with journalistic integrity? 

This page looks at BBC Editor and Today presenter Amol Rajan. For more information on the database click here.

Education

Learn about the significance of a private/Oxbridge education here

Amol Rajan was educated at a state secondary school before studying English at Downing College, Cambridge (source)

Revolving Door

Learn about the significance of the Revolving Door here.

Amol Rajan spent his gap year working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (source).

“Establishment” Connections

Learn about the significance of Establishment Connections here

Primary

Amol Rajan is married to Charlotte Faircloth, a senior lecturer in Social Sciences at UCL. They met whilst both were studying at Cambridge University. (source)

Salary/Indications of Wealth

Learn about the significance of journalists with an unusual level of wealth here

Amol Rajan is recorded in the BBC salary tables as earning between £325,000 and £329,999 in 2022. This is 12.5 times more than the UK national average. (source)

As a point of reference, the Office for National Statistics list the average UK salary for 2021 as £26,193.

in their own words…

No subject in the history of journalism has generated as much stupidity and sycophancy as the British Royal family. The whole point of journalism is to be a sceptical observer; to ask “What is really going on here?” and “Is that true”? And yet, when it comes to our absurd monarchy, journalists are so bamboozled by aristocratic wealth that they can only portray a confected picture to their audience. In other words, they substitute propaganda where journalism should be.

Amol Rajan

Summary

Amol Rajan claims that journalism is about being a “sceptical observer”rather than being “bamboozled” by wealth, yet he is a Cambridge educated journalistwho earns 12.5 times more than the UK average and is married to an influential academic.

Impartial? Independent? Holding the powerful to account?

Learn more about the Matrix Project here.

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