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.

In the old days, when the News of the World was in what might charitably be called its “pomp”, prisons were as regular a source of stories as randy vicars.

The story published last April by the Daily Star Sunday, alleging that convicted child murderer Ian Huntley had taken to wearing makeup and calling himself Nicola, therefore felt like an unwelcome blast from the past. It also, unsurprisingly, caused enormous distress to trans people – the casual link between Huntley’s crimes and his gender identity hinted at some sort of intrinsic connection beyond the individual.

Now it emerges that the story was untrue, with the newspaper having published a correction making clear that “there has never been a plan for [Huntley] to change his gender identity”.

This admission is important, not least because the original story played on the idea, much debated, that some male prisoners have sought to gain access to female prisons by claiming untruthfully that they wish to transition their gender. That debate is highly charged, toxic in fact, even if – at its core – there are some reasonable questions to consider.

Evidently, the story should never have made it to print and never should have upped the ante on highly sensitive broader issues. One wonders who the original source was, and what their motivation was – though whatever the answer, clearly inadequate checks were made.

Accuracy, in the end, is the primary measure by which journalism is judged. And when it comes to stories about contentious issues, and controversial individuals, accuracy becomes more important, not less.

Yours,

Will Gore

Executive editor