BBC reporter who covered trans issues questions claims of bias

A reporter at the heart of the BBC's coverage of gender dysphoria has questioned claims that the corporation shows "systemic bias" on trans issues, saying it ran a series of reports without any interference.

- Michael Savage Media editor

Claims that the BBC had failed to properly cover gender and trans issues formed part of a memo alleging “serious and systemic problems” of bias at the corporation.

The memo, written by a former external adviser to the BBC and leaked to the Daily Telegraph, led to the resignations of the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness.

Michael Prescott, the former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee, wrote that there was “a constant drip-feed of one-sided stories”, with a bias towards a pro-trans rights lobby. The PR executive also alleged “effective censorship” from within the BBC on the topic.

He said an exception was a series of reports on Newsnight about the treatment of children and young people questioning their gender identity.