SEEN in Journalism
@JournalismSEEN • 23,881 subscribers
Working to restore accuracy and impartiality in media coverage of sex and gender | Spotted something we should know about? Email: [email protected]
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Totally fascinating clip. The 👀 that Jonathan Hinder MP gives Derbyshire, as she actively works to get him to describe ‘trans rights’ as a ‘middle class hobby horse’ - which would be quite a gotcha - followed by her disconcerted silence when he just says ‘men’ instead. She knew exactly what he was thinking of, and he knew exactly what she was doing. But the work on renormalising natural language has paid off. A couple of years ago he would have had to say ‘trans’ in some form, or ‘gender’, to describe events. Now he can just say ‘men’ and the power of that language trickery drains away completely.
SEEN in Journalism399,049 views • 3 months ago
PART 2 ➡️ Last week, BBC Three Counties devoted an hour-long segment to the new EHRC Code on single-sex spaces. It featured three men talking for around 30 minutes - but no female guest to explain why women's single-sex spaces matter. We've since learned that a suitable organisation was approached for an interview, but was then told it was not needed. Last week's post (link below) looked at the omission of female voices. But the framing of the discussion is notable too - starting with the title: 'is it right to tell transgender people which toilet to use?' The presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith followed up with: "My question to you today is: is that right, or does that seem unnecessarily unkind and mean?” But the new EHRC Code isn't an optional act of kindness. It sets out how organisations are expected to comply with equality law following the Supreme Court's ruling that "sex" in the Equality Act means biological sex Vernon-Smith introduced his first guest, barrister Robin Moira White, apologising in advance in case he used language that might be considered 'offensive'. Later, he repeated a similar message to a caller. But it's not "offensive" to state the truth. Saying that a man is a man is factually correct. White also made a number of significant claims that went largely unchallenged. Including: - Excluding a trans-identifying male from female toilets would "probably" amount to discrimination - Members of the public could become "toilet police" - There are "around 40 times" as many 'butch lesbians' as trans people - The changes could cost "several billion" pounds - The Supreme Court ruling is likely to be reversed within two or three years Robin Moira White has a distinctly male voice, yet female pronouns were used throughout the interview. Later, listeners were introduced to "Michelle" from Watford as a woman, only to hear another distinctly male voice. That creates the kind of dissonance that leaves listeners questioning whether they heard correctly. Good journalism should help audiences understand what they're hearing, not leave them wondering whether they've misunderstood it. It’s isn't about helping audiences arrive at a preferred conclusion. It's about helping them understand the facts clearly enough to reach their own.
SEEN in Journalism85,783 views • 28 days ago
Jeremy Vine challenged some dubious claims during today’s Channel 5 discussion on JK Rowling’s legal fund. That’s welcome. But much of the conversation on women’s rights was driven by Owen Jones - with comparatively little input from the other guest, Alys Denby. Among the claims presented as settled fact were: - JK Rowling had “changed the law”, rather than the Supreme Court interpreting existing legislation in a case brought by For Women Scotland - The ruling had left trans people “in limbo”. - Trans rights and women’s rights “rise together or fall together” - Countries expanding abortion rights also advance women’s rights Jones also argued that the exclusion of men who identify as women from single sex spaces depends on whether it’s a “proportionate means” of achieving a legitimate aim. But the obvious follow-up question wasn’t asked: ‘OK, Owen. Can you give me a scenario where providing women with their own toilets, showers and changing room - spaces that men cannot access - to protect their privacy, dignity and safety would not be a legitimate aim?’ Commentators are entitled to make arguments. Journalists should test them - particularly when they’re presented as established fact.
SEEN in Journalism84,150 views • 28 days ago
![Yesterday BBC Three Counties devoted almost 30 minutes of airtime to three male contributors - for a discussion about whether men who identify as women should use female toilets. Presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith spoke to: 1. Robin Moira White - a male barrister who identifies as a woman (approx 12 mins) 2. Nora Padilla - policy manager at trans-rights campaign group TransActual (approx 5 mins) 3. “Michelle” from Watford - a male who identifies as a woman (approx 11 mins) Vernon-Smith did offer some challenge - reading out messages supporting single-sex toilets and inviting women who objected to men in their single sex spaces to call in. But why wasn’t a gender-critical guest invited onto the show in the first place? And why did the discussion seem to centre around personal preference - rather than matters of law? The most extraordinary section was the lengthy interview with a man called “Michelle” from Watford (we’ve included the clip here), who - as well as saying he does use women’s toilets - made the following statements: “All I want to do is […] wash hands, check the lipstick and come out.” “I usually get some nice compliments about the outfit and accessories I’m wearing.” “We don’t want to be challenged every time we go to powder our nose.” “Why do you think we want to be women? Because we love and respect everything feminine.” These comments - which clearly stereotype womanhood - went largely unchallenged. And when Michelle said women didn’t mind sharing toilets with him, Vernon-Smith didn’t ask the obvious question: might they object, but feel too afraid to say? Michelle also volunteered that he had not “fully transitioned”. Yet Vernon-Smith did not explore why a male who retains his male anatomy believes he should use facilities where women are attending to intimate bodily needs. Almost 30 minutes for three male contributors to discuss women’s toilets - but no female guest booked to explain why single-sex spaces matter. That’s the editorial choice worth examining.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2086113299410682045/amplify_video_thumb/2086109873742192640/img/ASys4ucXWWQpCkOM.jpg)
Yesterday BBC Three Counties devoted almost 30 minutes of airtime to three male contributors - for a discussion about whether men who identify as women should use female toilets. Presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith spoke to: 1. Robin Moira White - a male barrister who identifies as a woman (approx 12 mins) 2. Nora Padilla - policy manager at trans-rights campaign group TransActual (approx 5 mins) 3. “Michelle” from Watford - a male who identifies as a woman (approx 11 mins) Vernon-Smith did offer some challenge - reading out messages supporting single-sex toilets and inviting women who objected to men in their single sex spaces to call in. But why wasn’t a gender-critical guest invited onto the show in the first place? And why did the discussion seem to centre around personal preference - rather than matters of law? The most extraordinary section was the lengthy interview with a man called “Michelle” from Watford (we’ve included the clip here), who - as well as saying he does use women’s toilets - made the following statements: “All I want to do is […] wash hands, check the lipstick and come out.” “I usually get some nice compliments about the outfit and accessories I’m wearing.” “We don’t want to be challenged every time we go to powder our nose.” “Why do you think we want to be women? Because we love and respect everything feminine.” These comments - which clearly stereotype womanhood - went largely unchallenged. And when Michelle said women didn’t mind sharing toilets with him, Vernon-Smith didn’t ask the obvious question: might they object, but feel too afraid to say? Michelle also volunteered that he had not “fully transitioned”. Yet Vernon-Smith did not explore why a male who retains his male anatomy believes he should use facilities where women are attending to intimate bodily needs. Almost 30 minutes for three male contributors to discuss women’s toilets - but no female guest booked to explain why single-sex spaces matter. That’s the editorial choice worth examining.
SEEN in Journalism85,532 views • 1 month ago
"Tristan identifies as a trans woman. Her preferred pronouns are she/her." These are the words of BBC Radio Ulster presenter Chris Buckler during today's interview with Fiona McAnena from Sex Matters. About a male guest. They were discussing his recent interview with Tristan Morrow - a young man who left the Orange Order and now identifies as a trans woman. SEEN in Journalism criticised that interview for: - Inaccuracy: using female pronouns for a man - Failing to challenge contested ideological claims - Not mentioning women once - despite covering disputes over women's sex-based spaces We've now had the chance to listen back to today's interview with Fiona (McAnena). While it was encouraging to hear a gender-critical woman given similar airtime, the two interviews could hardly have been more different. Morrow was largely allowed to tell his personal story uninterrupted and with relatively little challenge. McAnena faced repeated interruptions and hostile questioning, much of it relating to the recent controversy over the cancellation of a Women's Rights Network event at the Belfast arts festival Féile an Phobail. Among the questions Buckler put to her - some more than once - were: - Do you accept that people born male should be allowed to live as women? - Do you object to referring to Tristan Morrow as "she"? - How does using female pronouns for trans women impact your rights? - Do you believe trans people have a right to exist? - Do you accept there are adults who feel they are in the wrong body? - Would you welcome a trans person to your event ? McAnena did an admirable job of steering the conversation back to women's rights. Buckler repeatedly returned it to transgender identity. Buckler also made several references to SEEN in Journalism's criticism of his interview with Morrow, but appeared to misunderstand the substance of our argument. We did not say he should have included a female voice to "push back" on Morrow. We said he never mentioned women or women's rights once during a 21-minute interview about a dispute rooted in women's sex-based spaces. That is a different point entirely. We also raised concerns about inaccurate language - using female pronouns to describe a male guest. Rather than engaging with those concerns, Buckler appeared to double down - at one point, appearing to rebuke McAnena for referring to Morrow as "he". But our criticism wasn't about politeness. It was about accuracy. A principle the BBC should hold in the highest regard. At one point, Buckler said he wasn't speaking from either side. Yet across these two interviews, listeners learnt far more about identifying as trans than they did about why women defend sex-based rights. Good journalism should help audiences understand competing perspectives, not steer them towards one.
SEEN in Journalism79,364 views • 1 month ago
Sandie Peggie’s Solicitor, Margaret Gribbon, announcing the appeal
SEEN in Journalism537,880 views • 9 months ago
“Thuggish, sectarian, right-wing accounts.” “You couldn’t get a sheet of paper between them and the far right.” “They don’t want your kind of toxic gender ideology at their festival.” “They were the same people cheering on attacks on migrants.” “I’d be embarrassed if my political allies were Elon Musk and Donald Trump.” These were among the descriptions used by Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris during a BBC Radio Ulster interview with Sex Matters Director of Advocacy Helen Joyce earlier today. They were debating the cancellation of a Women’s Rights Network event at Féile an Phobail. Morris was defending her recent Belfast Telegraph column in which she accused women campaigning for sex-based rights of “obsessing” over a tiny trans minority and described them as an “online sectarian mob”. She repeatedly linked gender-critical campaigners to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, anti-migrant activists and the far right - associations apparently drawn from scrolling people’s social-media feeds. She accused Joyce of bringing a “nasty attitude” to the interview and asserted - incorrectly - that JK Rowling was funding legal action against Féile. The presenter read out a statement from WRN that refuted this. When Joyce alleged that false claims had been made in both the column and the interview and said Morris should have checked her facts, Morris snapped: “We don’t interview people for opinion articles.” Presumably Morris was unaware of Joyce’s own background as a journalist. Opinion journalism allows robust criticism. But it does not remove the responsibility to check facts, represent opposing arguments fairly, acknowledge where claims are contested and distinguish scrutiny from personal attack.
SEEN in Journalism73,006 views • 1 month ago
What if the BBC and other mainstream broadcasters had challenged trans ideology instead of affirming it? This exchange between Vanessa Feltz and Andrew Gold offers a glimpse of the conversations audiences should have heard years ago. What does “be kind” mean for women losing single-sex spaces? For employees compelled to affirm beliefs they do not share? For children being medicalised? Can someone literally change sex? And what happens when one person’s identity conflicts with another person’s rights? Instead of examining those questions, much of the media adopted the language and assumptions of trans activism - while presenting those who challenged them as cruel, hateful or obsessed with other people’s lives. Had journalists subjected these claims to proper scrutiny from the beginning, would so many institutions have adopted damaging policies? Would people have lost jobs and livelihoods? Would children have been placed on medical pathways that many now regret? Journalism is supposed to test contested claims - not affirm them. Do watch the full Vanessa Feltz interview on Andrew Gold’s Heretics YouTube channel (link below) 👇
SEEN in Journalism17,268 views • 10 days ago
Here’s the R4 Today interview with Max Hill and Shami Chakrabarti on Glinner. The utility of this programme lies its general obeisance to the official Overton window of any controversial story. In this case we are not permitted to discuss the imbalance of response: the /
SEEN in Journalism374,137 views • 1 year ago
