SYDNEY: The Australian Press Council today released an Advisory Guideline for editors and journalists – Reporting on persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

The Advisory Guideline is the culmination of 12 months’ research and community consultation by the Press Council with editors, journalists, peak community and health organisations, mental health specialists, people with lived experience, police and academics. The process included roundtables in Sydney and Melbourne, as well a number of individual consultations with stakeholders.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the media are essential to democracy and central to keeping the community well informed and able to deal with complex social issues. With these freedoms come important responsibilities for the media. The Press Council’s General Principles, which all publisher members are obliged to comply with, reflect an appropriate balance, acknowledging the importance of reporting and expression of opinion in the public interest.
From time to time the Press Council develops Advisory Guidelines in particular areas to inform the operation of the General Principles and as a resource for journalists and publications.

This Advisory Guideline for reporting on people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics is intended to help publishers and journalists report on people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics and the issues which affect them, with appropriate consideration of a range of sometimes sensitive factors. The Press Council also aims to promote the understanding that unfair or inaccurate reporting about these individuals can have serious adverse mental health outcomes for them.

The Advisory Guideline is not binding on the Press Council’s constituent members, but it provides guidance for:

• Reporters interviewing people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and/or sex characteristics
• Publications
• Press Council adjudication panel members and staff

There are numerous other national and international media reporting guidelines from organisations including the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Transgender Europe, GLAAD, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, ACON and Intersex Human Rights. Links to these can be found in Attachment 1 of the Advisory Guideline.

The Press Council promotes high journalistic and editorial standards, community access to information in the public interest, and freedom of expression through the media. It is also the principal body with responsibility for responding to complaints about Australian newspapers, magazines and associated digital outlets.

For media inquiries, please contact Dorothy Kennedy, Media Advisor, Australian Press Council at dorothy.kennedy@presscouncil.org.au.