The cass review, as its called, came out last week, and it recommends a new approach for clinicians. This is a Polarising Subject for some people. So, what mightjournalism do differently in how it covers it . Hannah barnes is a former bbc producer who investigated some of the uks gender Identity Services for the corporations newsnight programme. She went on to write a book about it. I asked her when she first started her investigation. First came across it at all in 2017. I was off on my first Maternity Leave and there was a piece in the times Byjanice Turner Which was talking about this really rapid increase in the referrals of Teenage Girls to gids the gender Identity Development service and she had spoken to two clinicians who worked at the service. It wasnt really a Big Sort Of Whistle blowy piece but they had talked to her and said what theyd seen and itjust i thought it was very interesting, but i was off and, you know, spending time with my baby. And there was also a documentary
Because they were controversial, because they stoked opinion. And for the bbc, | it often finds itself at the centre of these storms when its reporting on these issues. People on both sides of the argument criticise the coverage. It has often had to make apologies. I mean, for example, it has apologised to Jk Rowling twice in the past year or so because shes been accused of being transphobic on air. | and its an incredibly i delicate balancing act, ithink, for the bbc. And, rebecca coombes, just to bring you in at the end, youre Head Ofjournalism at the british medicaljournal. I mean, one thing i should say is that and cass says it too you know, in the absence of evidence, dont we have to, as journalists, listen to the voices of people in pain . Um, yes, we do. But i also think this is a call to improve sort of scientific literacy amongst Health Notjust healthjournalists,
It hasnt. I dont think the media has done itself has not really its not had a good episode here. I think there are exceptions but, really, the running has been done by generalists predominantly by female journalists and all of the Health And Science specialists have been absent. There really wasnt the support from the wider bbc. And, rebecca coombes, if i could bring you in youre Head Ofjournalism at the british medicaljournal. Would you agree . Would you say that science journalists avoided this subject . Im afraid i would, actually. Why . Why did they . I think there was a real hesitancy, and im hopeful that post cass, the hesitant might be more courageous in stepping into the silence. I think there was a real mishmash between evidence and advocacy, and that became a problem
They were controversial, - because they stoked opinion. and for the bbc, it often finds itself at the centre of these storms when it s i reporting on these issues. people on both sides . of the argument criticise the coverage. it has often had - to make apologies. i mean, for example, - it has apologised to jk rowling twice in the past year- or so because she s been accused of being . transphobic on air. and it s an incredibly i delicate balancing act, ithink, for the bbc. and, rebecca coombes, just to bring you in at the end, you re head ofjournalism at the british medicaljournal. i mean, one thing i should say is that and cass says it too you know, in the absence of evidence, don t we have to, as journalists, listen to the voices of people in pain? um, yes, we do. but i also think this is a call to improve sort of scientific literacy amongst health not just health journalists
I don t think the media has done itself has not really it s not had a good episode here. i think there are exceptions but, really, the running has been done by generalists predominantly by female journalists and all of the health and science specialists have been absent. there really wasn t the support from the wider bbc. and, rebecca coombes, if i could bring you in you re head ofjournalism at the british medicaljournal. would you agree? would you say that science journalists avoided this subject? i m afraid i would, actually. why? why did they? i think there was a real hesitancy, and i m hopeful that post cass, the hesitant might be more courageous in stepping into the silence. i think there was a real mishmash between evidence and advocacy, and that became a problem.