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transOh jeez.
I hate when newspapers report on transgendered people. This week was a cornucopia of fail.
First of all, a small flood happened. Pittsburgh, being on a river delta, has waters that rise every time there is a storm. There was a homeless woman stuck in an underground walkway as the waters rose higher. A river rescue took place to save her life and soon, every newspaper in the area reported on the event.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just sensitive. Maybe I'm stupid. I read through the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's description of the events and I got that sinking feeling anytime I read something that involves a transperson, let alone someone in transition. It wasn't too bad: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_551263.html
That's fine. Not the best. I mean, why does her gender have anything to do with the rescue? It's not like her identity somehow made it more difficult for the rescue to happen. 7/10. It's not the best, but I'll take it considering the worst that could be written.
Then I read the Post-Gazette's write-up of the situation. Oh wow: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08039/855797-53.stm
Okay, so first of all, foul on the pronouns. Second of all, what does the gender have to do with the rescue again? Am I somehow missing the fact that rescuing a "she" requires special equipment?
Granted, I don't know much about this woman's transition but I have heard of her before. if she is indeed the same MtF that I have heard of, I don't think she would prefer the male pronouns. What is with journalistic integrity today?
Argh :<
X-posted to my crappy journal
I hate when newspapers report on transgendered people. This week was a cornucopia of fail.
First of all, a small flood happened. Pittsburgh, being on a river delta, has waters that rise every time there is a storm. There was a homeless woman stuck in an underground walkway as the waters rose higher. A river rescue took place to save her life and soon, every newspaper in the area reported on the event.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just sensitive. Maybe I'm stupid. I read through the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's description of the events and I got that sinking feeling anytime I read something that involves a transperson, let alone someone in transition. It wasn't too bad: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_551263.html
That's fine. Not the best. I mean, why does her gender have anything to do with the rescue? It's not like her identity somehow made it more difficult for the rescue to happen. 7/10. It's not the best, but I'll take it considering the worst that could be written.
Then I read the Post-Gazette's write-up of the situation. Oh wow: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08039/855797-53.stm
Okay, so first of all, foul on the pronouns. Second of all, what does the gender have to do with the rescue again? Am I somehow missing the fact that rescuing a "she" requires special equipment?
Granted, I don't know much about this woman's transition but I have heard of her before. if she is indeed the same MtF that I have heard of, I don't think she would prefer the male pronouns. What is with journalistic integrity today?
Argh :<
Dear Post-Gazette,
I recently read an article in the Post-Gazette entitled "Rescue in river tunnel a dangerous challenge". Originally published on Friday, February 8th, 2008, it was written by Jim McKinnon and placed in the new section of the Post-Gazette web site. I feel as though this is a mistake. Surely, you meant to publish this in the gossip section, or perhaps the "Odd News" section of the site.
The way that this article is written disturbs and appalls me. Simply look at this article on the web site at post-gazette.com: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08039/855797-53.stm
At first, we are shown a dramatic picture of what appears to be a woman, being pulled into a boat. After all, that is what the Tribune-Review reports. "Divers pluck woman from flooded downtown basement", retrievable at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_551263.html
But then, as I read through your writing of the situation, I am made aware of something amazing. Apparently, the fact that this woman was transgendered somehow impeded the rescue, making the situation all the more dangerous. After all, an entire paragraph is devoted to explaining that she was in the process of having gender reassignment. Shocking! Disturbing! We are then told that "He" was taken to UPMC Mercy where "He" was treated and released. "His" name is Rebecca Hare. I do not know about you, but I do not know many women who prefer to be called "He". Yet, you do that throughout your article. Further investigative energy could have been expended to discover that Ms. Hare was indeed a male-to-female transgendered person, and using female pronouns in relation to her identity would be the proper thing to do.
I am shocked that the Post-Gazette has taken such a conservative and backwater approach to this issue. When the Tribune-Review, a supposedly conservative paper, has the common courtesy to refer to Ms. Hare as female throughout their reporting, it reflects poorly on the Post-Gazette; not only does it show poor investigative skills, but it shows a flippant disregard for the subject of the reporting and their identity. May I suggest sensitivity training or perhaps some sort of study of transgendered people?
Sincerely,
A concerned reader.
I recently read an article in the Post-Gazette entitled "Rescue in river tunnel a dangerous challenge". Originally published on Friday, February 8th, 2008, it was written by Jim McKinnon and placed in the new section of the Post-Gazette web site. I feel as though this is a mistake. Surely, you meant to publish this in the gossip section, or perhaps the "Odd News" section of the site.
The way that this article is written disturbs and appalls me. Simply look at this article on the web site at post-gazette.com: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08039/855797-53.stm
At first, we are shown a dramatic picture of what appears to be a woman, being pulled into a boat. After all, that is what the Tribune-Review reports. "Divers pluck woman from flooded downtown basement", retrievable at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_551263.html
But then, as I read through your writing of the situation, I am made aware of something amazing. Apparently, the fact that this woman was transgendered somehow impeded the rescue, making the situation all the more dangerous. After all, an entire paragraph is devoted to explaining that she was in the process of having gender reassignment. Shocking! Disturbing! We are then told that "He" was taken to UPMC Mercy where "He" was treated and released. "His" name is Rebecca Hare. I do not know about you, but I do not know many women who prefer to be called "He". Yet, you do that throughout your article. Further investigative energy could have been expended to discover that Ms. Hare was indeed a male-to-female transgendered person, and using female pronouns in relation to her identity would be the proper thing to do.
I am shocked that the Post-Gazette has taken such a conservative and backwater approach to this issue. When the Tribune-Review, a supposedly conservative paper, has the common courtesy to refer to Ms. Hare as female throughout their reporting, it reflects poorly on the Post-Gazette; not only does it show poor investigative skills, but it shows a flippant disregard for the subject of the reporting and their identity. May I suggest sensitivity training or perhaps some sort of study of transgendered people?
Sincerely,
A concerned reader.
X-posted to my crappy journal