The BBC is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. As the trial between the Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie and NHS Fife continues – after Peggie’s suspension over questioning the use of female-only facilities by trans doctor Beth Upton – it seems that the Beeb can’t quite seem to work out how to characterise its coverage.
Mr S’s spies have drawn attention to a rather odd change on the BBC Scotland website in an article covering the ongoing trial. Initially a piece was posted with the headline: ‘Transgender doctor tells tribunal “I am not male”.’ The opening paragraph of this read as follows:
A transgender doctor at the centre of an NHS employment tribunal has repeatedly insisted on being a woman after being called a man by lawyers during cross-examination.
Yet rather curiously the headline was altered, to instead state: ‘”I’m only asking for basic respect” says trans doctor in NHS changing room row.’ Talk about a change of tone, eh? And that’s not all that was altered, with the first paragraph updated to read:
A transgender doctor is ‘only asking for basic respect’ when it comes to having their gender identity accepted, an NHS employment tribunal has heard.
It’s all quite baffling. About the whole palaver the Scottish Beeb told Steerpike: ‘Online headlines and stories regularly change to highlight different elements of our reporting. We are confident that our coverage of this case is both fair and accurate.’ How interesting…
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