So @nickwallis and I just attended an online journalism workshop on reporting trans issues. We’ve been talking about creating our own workshop on reporting sex and gender - perhaps with @JournalismSEEN - and wanted to understand the guidance journalists are receiving. The journalist running this paid training had clearly prepared carefully and likely wasn't expecting their ideas to be challenged. Nevertheless, they tried to engage in good faith with our questions - and the organisers let them. That's good. But much of what was taught was wrong - from explanations of the law to the fundamentals of journalism: accuracy, impartiality and balance. I was ticked off for not being “compassionate” when I questioned whether “pregnant people” and “person with a vulva” were accurate descriptions for journalists to use. Another participant was reminded to be “respectful” after questioning the assertion that sex was “hardly ever” relevant in reporting. Of course we should treat people with respect. But journalism isn't about being “nice”. It’s about being accurate. And that means being willing to ask the awkward question no one else wants to ask. Yet our questions received no support from other participants - some of whom were practising journalists like Nick and me. One was a lecturer at a UK university. Here’s the draft outline Nick and I put together for our workshop, next to the one we just attended. I’ve removed identifying details - please don’t add them in the comments. Not claiming it's perfect - the point is that our aim is not agreement or compliance. It’s to help journalists and content creators do their jobs properly - according to long-established journalistic ethics and principles. If we want people to trust journalism again, they need to know we’ll ask difficult questions - whatever the subject, and however uncomfortable the answers. And that what they’re getting is journalism - not activism.