Research Mentor(s)
Joan Connell
Description
With news organizations being faced with reporting on the recent national rise of state anti-trans legislation, journalists must consider how to best report on the transgender community and the issues they face. Media professionals need to first consider the history of media coverage of the trans community. The journalism field has a history of choosing to reduce trans people to their genitalia, sex lives, and transition. In turn, this framing harmfully sensationalizes trans identities and distracts from more important aspects of their stories and experiences. Whether it is positive or negative, how a publication decides to frame a trans person’s identity and story affects how readers view and interact with the trans community. Journalists should consider what classification the information they are wanting to inquire about falls under and how the golden rule applies to the questions they are asking. By following recommended guidelines written by LGBTQ+ people, journalists can check their biases and be given clear guidelines on the best course of action when reporting. If news organizations and media outlets want to uphold professional journalistic ethical standards, they must take on the extra work required to fairly and accurately report on trans people and the issues they face.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2022
End Date
May 2022
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
CHSS - Journalism
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
The Ethics of Reporting on Transgender Issues
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
With news organizations being faced with reporting on the recent national rise of state anti-trans legislation, journalists must consider how to best report on the transgender community and the issues they face. Media professionals need to first consider the history of media coverage of the trans community. The journalism field has a history of choosing to reduce trans people to their genitalia, sex lives, and transition. In turn, this framing harmfully sensationalizes trans identities and distracts from more important aspects of their stories and experiences. Whether it is positive or negative, how a publication decides to frame a trans person’s identity and story affects how readers view and interact with the trans community. Journalists should consider what classification the information they are wanting to inquire about falls under and how the golden rule applies to the questions they are asking. By following recommended guidelines written by LGBTQ+ people, journalists can check their biases and be given clear guidelines on the best course of action when reporting. If news organizations and media outlets want to uphold professional journalistic ethical standards, they must take on the extra work required to fairly and accurately report on trans people and the issues they face.