The false story about Ian Huntley caused immeasurable pain to the trans community

Accuracy, in the end, is the primary measure by which journalism is judged

Media reporting about trans people has changed significantly in the past two decades. In the early years of the 21st century, the most likely story to feature a trans person would almost certainly appear in a Sunday tabloid, probably focus on some sort of sexual encounter and definitely deploy all sorts of highly inappropriate terminology.

The most gratuitous of these examples might – just might – be in the past. Changing social mores, the shifting face of the news industry and a greater understanding of the discrimination faced by trans communities have all had positive impacts.

But only up to a point.