Gender Identity

RTDNA recommends the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists stylebook for appropriate reporting around gender: www.nlgja.org/stylebook.

In the organization’s guidelines, it recommends the following considerations among others:

Pronoun Use for Transgender Sources
If sources share a transgender or gender-nonconforming identity on the record, ask which pronouns they use and incorporate them into your report as needed.

Transgender Reporting
Generally, transgender describes people whose gender identity and/ or expression may not match their physical, sexual characteristics or sex assigned at birth.

Balance
When covering a controversial or sensitive issues, it’s standard journalism practice to seek out opposing views to provide “balance” to a story. However, there are times when “balance” doesn’t further understanding of the issues or the story.