Cebu media guide to sensitive gender reporting. From CCPC-Stet September 2024 ‘Mamser’ forum.
Cebu media guide to sensitive gender reporting. From CCPC-Stet September 2024 ‘Mamser’ forum.
IAN VINCENT MANTICAJON
Special to CJJ
Nov. 16, 2024
This guide was born out of a recent misgendering case involving Jude Bacalso, a well-known media figure here in Cebu. That incident led to heated discussions on social media, but it also highlighted the need for our media to handle gender issues with greater care.
IN celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week, local journalists, editors, students, and LGBTQ+ advocates came together on Sept. 19, 2024, for a forum titled “MamSer: Improving Media Reporting on Gender.” The forum, organized by the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) and the Stet-Women in Cebu Media, aimed to examine ways to improve reporting on gender.
Bacalso herself shared her experience, and guest speakers included Atty. Ian Vincent Manticajon from Cebu Media Legal Aid (CEMLA), Professor Archill Capistrano from the University of the Philippines Cebu, and Chase Go, founder of the Philippine Chamber of Transman Equality and Commerce and Industry Awareness Movement. They spoke about the ideal way to cover stories involving gender identity, highlighting the harm that careless reporting can cause and the real difference that respect can make.
This guide attempts to bring together lessons learned at the forum. It is hoped that journalists will use it to learn how to handle gender-sensitive topics—like using correct pronouns, avoiding stereotypes, and respecting privacy. This is not a list of rules; it’s a practical tool designed to help journalists get it right in everyday reporting.
The CCPC aims to help Cebu’s media cover gender issues in a way that respects everyone’s dignity. By putting the lessons from the “MamSer” forum into a written guide, it is hoped that Cebu journalists can move forward with reporting that’s both responsible and respectful, ensuring that every story we tell is told with care.
Forum resource speakers.
Upholding dignity, promoting inclusivity
Chase Go emphasized that gender-sensitive reporting upholds dignity and promotes inclusivity. It helps combat stereotypes and reduce discrimination. Using respectful language and accurate representation can influence public perception positively and foster a more inclusive society.
Lawyer Ian Vincent Manticajon said the press is a cornerstone of democracy, but it also has ethical duties. Gender-sensitive reporting isnot just a rule to follow—it’s a way to respect human dignity and keep up with how we understand gender today.
Standards in gender-sensitive reporting
1. Accuracy and respect in reporting
- Verify facts and ask individuals how they wish to be identified.
- Avoid assumptions about someone’s gender identity; let individuals define themselves.
Professor Archill Capistrano stressed the importance of respecting self-identification to avoid “othering” and discrimination.
- Non-discrimination
- Uphold equality by treating all gender identities with respect.
- Avoid language or narratives that may perpetuate gender-based stereotypes or discrimination.
Chase Go emphasized the impact of respectful, inclusive reporting, reminding journalists that their choice of language has a powerful effect on public perception.
- Accountability
- Own mistakes and make corrections promptly when misgendering or other inaccuracies occur.
- Editors should review content for gender-sensitive language and any potentially harmful implications.
Atty. Ian Vincent Manticajon advised journalists to own their mistakes. Correcting misgendering right away is part of upholding press freedom with responsibility.
Language, key terms
Defining key terms
Sex vs. Gender: Go presented definitions of “sex” as biological characteristics and “gender” as socially constructed roles, emphasizing that gender identity is personal and fluid.
Misgendering: Referring to someone using terms or pronouns that do not reflect their gender identity, which can cause emotional harm.
Inclusive language
- Avoid gendered language: Professor Capistrano discussed the need to avoid assumptions based on binary definitions of gender. Use terms like “person” or “individual” rather than “man” or “woman” unless relevant.
- Respect for Pronouns: Chase Go advocated for respecting individuals’ pronouns as a basic form of respect. Use a person’s chosen pronouns, such as he/him, she/her, or they/them.
Reporting guidelines
- Handling misgendering Incidents
- Jude Bacalso shared her view, saying that while misgendering is hurtful, it’s also an opportunity to learn. People should recognize the harm it can cause. But the incident with him and the waiter, which went viral, should have been resolved quietly instead of being sensationalized on social media.
- In cases like the Bacalso incident, it’s important to frame the reporting around the lesson it can offer, not the hype.
- Approaching Interviews and coverage
- Politely ask for preferred pronouns and names when interviewing individuals on gender-sensitive topics.
- Avoid deadnaming (using a former name) or using incorrect pronouns without consent.
Chase Go stressed the critical role of journalists in fostering respect and inclusivity through accurate language. Go explained that misgendering and deadnaming can cause significant emotional distress and perpetuate stigma against transgender individuals. He urged media professionals to prioritize these practices to promote understanding and respect for gender diversity.
- Legal perspective on misgendering
- Misgendering, while not a criminal act per se, can lead to harassment claims in certain contexts. Legal advisor from CEMLA, Attorney Ian Vincent Manticajon, emphasized the importance of context, suggesting that repeated, intentional misgendering may have legal consequences.
Respecting privacy; consent
- Respect the privacy of individuals when reporting on sensitive gender issues, especially if the individual has not consented to public disclosure.
- Avoid outing or exposing someone’s gender identity without their explicit consent.
Both Jude Bacalso and Professor Capistrano stressed that personal matters like gender identity shouldn’t be made public without consent.
- Always seek consent before sharing personal details, especially around gender identity, as it may subject individuals to unwanted attention or harm. (Bacalso)
Avoiding stereotypes, harmful bias
- Avoid language that reinforces gender stereotypes (e.g., associating strength with masculinity or sensitivity with femininity). Ensure stories featuring gender-diverse individuals are not reduced to stereotypes.
Professor Capistrano discussed the importance of avoiding stereotypes, explaining that framing individuals within rigid gender roles contributes to social division and discrimination.
- Coverage should not sensationalize or portray gender identity as abnormal or deviant.Focus on human interest and respect for individual stories rather than sensational details.
Chase Go said that media coverage should respect diverse gender identities without reducing individuals to stereotypes or treating gender issues as abnormal.
One of the media reports following the appearance of Jude Bacalso, with other resource persons, before the CCPC-Stet-Women in Media forum on Sept. 19, 2024. From FB page of The Scoop.
Case study: the Jude Bacalso incident
On July 22, 2024, a misgendering incident occurred at a Cebu restaurant involving Jude Bacalso. The server misgendered Bacalso, sparking a public conversation on gender respect and media responsibility. The incident also cast Bacalso in a negative light, with many netizens criticizing him on social media after a single photo went viral.
The widely circulated photo shows Jude Bacalso seated at a table in a Cebu restaurant, with a male waiter standing in front of her in a “parade rest” stance. The photo was taken during an incident where the waiter reportedly called Bacalso “sir,” which led to a discussion between them. The image sparked strong debate online, with many criticizing Bacalso for allegedly making the waiter stand in this position for an extended period. (Sun.Star Cebu)
During the forum, Bacalso highlighted the importance of inclusivity in public spaces and called for increased awareness around correct pronoun use. She said t the matter was better handled through quiet resolution and dialogue rather than public confrontation.
Professor Archill Capistrano and Chase Go stressed that gender sensitivity must be approached as an evolving practice, with language adapting to reflect deeper understanding and respect for diverse identities. 
Images from the Sept.19, 2024 forum.
References, resources for journalists
Trans Journalists Association Stylebook and Coverage Guide
(https://styleguide.transjournalists.org/)
GLAAD Media Reference Guide 5
(https://glaad.org/reference/)
Gender-Fair Media Guidebook (Philippine Commission on Women)
Radical Copyeditor’s Style Guide for Writing About Transgender People
(https://radicalcopyeditor.com/2017/08/31/transgender-style-guide/)
ATTY. IAN VINCENT CAVADA MANTICAJON is a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines Cebu, where he teaches communication, media law, and ethics. He also serves as a Human Rights Law professor at the University of Cebu School of Law. In addition to his academic roles, he is a practicing lawyer engaged in the areas of family law, criminal law, property law, and human rights law.
Atty. Manticajon holds a law degree from the University of San Carlos and a Master’s in Design from Shu-Te University in Taiwan, where he focused on sustainable and user-centered design. His diverse educational background combines legal expertise with a practical approach to sustainable community projects.
In his legal work, he is actively involved in civic and advocacy groups, including the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), and Cebu Media Legal Aid (CEMLA).
In 2014, he received the Tatak UP Award from the UP Alumni Association Cebu Chapter for his contributions to legal education and community empowerment. He is also a columnist for The Freeman Newspaper in Cebu. Atty. Ian Vincent is married to Atty. Arrah Camillia Q. Manticajon and hails from the town of Catmon, Cebu. He currently resides in Banilad, Mandaue City.