Reporting on transgender victims of homicide: Practices of misgendering, sourcing and transparency. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seely, Natalee
• Is Part Of: Newspaper research journal. Volume 42:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: reporting techniques -- press and society -- minorities/diversity -- ethics -- journalism education; Newspapers -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Periodicals; 070.172
• DOI: 10.1177/0739532921989872
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0739-5329

Abstract

Media representations of violence against transgender individuals have implications for public opinion, awareness and policy. A sample (N = 212) of U.S. mainstream news articles about 53 transgender 2018–2019 victims of homicide were studied by content analysis and qualitative methods. About 13% of articles referred to victims by their deadnames (no longer used birthnames), but about 18% of articles drew attention to the harms of misidentification. Deadnaming declined significantly from 2018 to 2019. About 30% of the full sample discussed violence against transgender individuals in social context. Police and transgender community advocates were sources in 80% and 50% of articles, respectively.