Media Council advises Stuff to be more balanced

Stuff reports a Media Council ruling:

In addressing Ms Hickson’s more general complaints that Stuff lacked balance on transgender issues, Stuff said it took the view that giving a voice to certain opinions on transgender issues amounted to giving a platform to prejudice and views that might cause harm. Stuff went on to say a similar issue arose in the reporting of climate change where it was not a requirement to include comments from climate change deniers for balance.

While the Media Council did not uphold the complaint under principle (1) it noted the debate about the treatment of gender dysphoria in children is slightly different from other transgender issues and it rejected Stuff’s argument it is analogous to climate change. In the case of climate change there is an overwhelming consensus of scientific opinion whereas on the issue of childhood gender dysphoria there appears to be a variety of genuinely held and differing opinions internationally. The Council hoped all media outlets would consider whether they are taking a balanced approach overall.

Quite extraordinary that Stuff has openly said we will not allow contrary views on the issue of treatment gender dysphoria in children, when you have had damning reports from overseas about treatment in the UK, including from a High Court judge.