Trans Media Watch

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Trans Media Watch
Logo: four differently coloured bulbs in a circle
Trans Media Watch logo
Abbreviation TMW
Motto Accuracy, dignity, respect
Headquarters London
Region
 United Kingdom
Website transmediawatch.org

Trans Media Watch (TMW) is a British charity which aims to ensure that transgender and intersex people are "treated with accuracy, dignity and respect by media organisations in the UK."[this quote needs a citation] It started as a Facebook group in 2009, collecting examples of transphobia in the UK mainstream media, and providing information.

TMW comments and advises on issues related to the representation of the transgender community in the United Kingdom, working with regulatory bodies, broadcasters, press organisations, independent production companies, journalists, regulators, and politicians to improve the representation of transgender]] and intersex people in the media.

TMW also advises transgender people who have been approached by the media.[1]

Research

In April 2010, TMW published 'How Transgender People Experience the Media',[2] which describes the findings of a study conducted between November 2009 and February 2010 to learn how transgender people in the UK feel about the media portrays them. The research concluded that humiliating and demeaning characterisations of trans people in the media play a significant role in encouraging societal prejudice and abuse towards the community.

Memorandum of understanding

In March 2011, UK broadcaster Channel 4 became the inaugural signatory of TMW's memorandum of understanding (MoU),[3] a document which calls for better media representation of trans people.[4] In May 2011, Women in Journalism became a signatory, acknowledging the killing of eminent human rights lawyer and trans woman Sonia Burgess, and its subsequent prejudicial media coverage, as stimulus to do so.[5] The Observer newspaper also took notice of TMW due to Burgess' death, saying there is a "need for sensitivity and respect" when dealing with transgender stories.[6]

At the MoU launch, held at Channel 4's London headquarters, Lynne Featherstone, the junior Minister for Equality, said "Congratulations to Trans Media Watch for this brilliant initiative and to Channel 4 for being the first (hopefully of many) broadcasters to sign up." [7]

Trans Media Action

In September 2011, Trans Media Watch and On Road Media launched the Trans Media Action initiative, with support from the BBC and Channel 4. Trans Media Action comprised a series of workshops and other initiatives designed to facilitate understanding between transgender people and journalists. Trans Media Action is now known as All About Trans.[8]

Leveson inquiry

In December 2011, Trans Media Watch made a submission to the The Leveson Inquiry into the "culture, practice and ethics of the press," in which it described the "unethical and often horrific and humiliating treatment of transgender and intersex people by the British press."[9]

In February 2012, a representative of Trans Media Watch gave evidence in person to the inquiry.[10]

See also

References

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External links

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