Fairness, accuracy of language key when covering Jenner interview
By Brady Jones
Friday night ABC News will air Diane Sawyer’s interview with Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner. Though specific details of the much hyped interview are scarce, many expect the Kardashian patriarch will discuss gender identity.
Words and how we use them have immense power, and newsrooms and publications may have questions regarding transgender coverage. ACES believes in the fairness and accuracy of language, and copy editors play a pivotal role in ensuring accuracy and sensitivity. So below are some coverage tips offered by the National Lesbian Gay Journalists Association:
1. Since Jenner has not publicly announced a gender identity, the best practice is to refer to Bruce Jenner by name rather than using pronouns. Example: “Olympic Champion Bruce Jenner is set to sit down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer amid reports that Jenner is transgender.”
2. Transgender people should be referred to by the name and gender with which they identify. Some transgender people choose to take hormones or have medical procedures, but that’s not what determines the right name and pronoun to use. It is stating one’s gender identity that is what should guide word use. If and when Jenner expresses a different gender pronoun or name, that’s the one to use.
3. One of the things that makes this story unique is the amount of attention and speculation prior to Jenner speaking publicly about gender. While it may be impossible to write about Jenner without addressing the current rumors, in general best practice is to allow individuals to address their gender or sexuality when they are ready.
For more resources, including the NLGJA Stylebook, visit: nlgja.org/resources.
