The Global Business Journalism program is pleased to share professional journalist tips from the National Press Club Journalism Institute. We are thankful to NPCJI executive director Beth Francesco for her kind permission to excerpt this from the National Press Club Journalism Institute's newsletter, "The Latest." It was originally published on June 3, 2024.
Trans people and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs are in the crosshairs of political leaders and policy makers in 2024. Journalists must be prepared to responsibly report and share the impact of these efforts.
Here are a few of the many reporting tips shared by journalists covering these issues during a National Press Club Journalism Institute webinar, "Covering trans and LGBTQ+ issues during 2024."
Include multiple viewpoints in your reporting and stories; there are more than two sides of the story when it comes to covering trans and LGBTQ+ topics.
If you are covering policy, such as health, sports, or other legislation, find out what instigated the legislation and who the lawmaker worked with to draft the bill. Who funded it? Include the many different voices of people who have been directly impacted by that legislative effort. Ask yourself: What question hasn’t been asked or what story the media is missing on the topic.
To find voices for your stories, look to social media groups and organizations that support trans and LGBTQ+ individuals. If you are looking to interview people under the age of 18: Many news organizations will require you to get parental consent, so look for parental groups that support trans and LGBTQ+ kids.
If you are reporting on parents who don’t support trans and LGBTQ+ kids, also include the voices of parents and kids that support them in your story. If you are reporting on people involved in sports who are opposed to trans athletes, make sure to include those cis voices who do support trans athletes.
When you are sourcing trans and LGBTQ+ stories, explain your reporting process to help build trust. Give sources the room to not answer questions they aren’t comfortable with. Allow them to bring a parent, lawyer, or guardian to the interview, if it makes them comfortable. Let them know the risks of facing harassment for talking with you. (Teen Vogue and ESPN have at times, depending upon the situation, given sources a pseudonym or offered anonymity if the source’s safety might be at risk.) For more details, please watch the entire video embedded in this post.
"The Latest" newsletter is written and edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Bara Vaida, and Holly Butcher Grant. Send your questions and suggestions for topics to cover. We recommend that you subscribe and donate. You also can view the archives of "The Latest."
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