Complaint
A listener complained about the use of a woman to read out the words of a trans woman athlete, suggesting this choice gave rise to inaccuracy and bias because the issue of gender identity was fundamental to the story being reported on. 聽The ECU assessed the item against the standards on due accuracy and impartiality set out in the 麻豆社 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The fact Emily Bridges was a trans woman was clear from the discussion, and listeners would have not been in any doubt on this point, irrespective of the choice of reader. 聽Neither did the use of a woman to voice these comments amount, in the ECU鈥檚 view, to a reflection on the matter which was the focus of the story (British Cycling鈥檚 decision to exclude trans women from competing in women鈥檚 events). What mattered in this context was the words used, rather than who voiced them, and the programme as a whole gave a thorough, duly accurate and impartial account of the arguments.
Not Upheld