New York Times Fear Of Transing
By Bob Small
The New York Times, “the newspaper of record”, seems to have a fear of transsexuality itself, more than a fear of being dubbed “anti-transexual”, according to FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting).
Nine front-page articles were surveyed from last year; six were anti-trans, and only two dealt with the issues that human beings who transitioned would face. Transexuality is a multi-faceted issue deserving even-handed coverage, as gays and lesbians are now covered by the New York Times. If the New York Times can’t provide this, maybe it should stick to sports.
In February, “about 200 New York Times contributors signed an open letter calling out the legacy newspaper for its coverage of transgender issues.”
The demand that the Times should “hire at least four more reporters and editors who are trans” smacks of blackmail. Can only a transgendered person can be fair on the issue of transgenderism?
The Vanity Fair piece quotes a town hall speaker who said, “There are people high up on the paper who think we are on the wrong side of history, and there is no public indication that anyone is grappling with that seriously.”
The Guardian has another perspective. Guardian reporter Arwa Mahdawi says, “I do think the Times possesses a unique haughtiness in thinking it is above everyone else and that it performs ‘pure’ journalism that has nothing to do with advocacy.”
