By Sammie Jones-
The Independent Press Regulation Authority(IPSO) has ruled against the Eastern Daily Express , stating they were wrong and inaccurate to claim that breast feeding was unacceptable.
The Independent Press Standards Organization upheld the complaint over a column, brought under grounds of inaccuracy and discrimination(gender discrimination) which appeared in a Norfolk Daily publication- Eastern Daily Press- about recent guidance from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The comment piece stated that “breast feeding” or “breast milk” seemed “like perfectly acceptable words” ,but that the Trust had said were “no longer acceptable. Instead we must start saying ‘chest feeding’ or ‘chest milk’ to be more inclusive”.
The Committee ruled it was inaccurate to report that the Trust had stated the terms “breast feeding” and “breast milk” were not acceptable, when the Trust’s guidance had in fact stated that these terms should be used both in one-on-one sessions with cis-women, and that breast/chest feeding should be used at population level
The column prompted a complaint by a reader, who said the Norwich-based daily did not accurately report the guidance issued by the Trust.
Accurate reporting is very important in journalism, and raises questions and suspicions about motives whenever inaccurate information is published. Complaints in relation to inaccurate publication highlights the many potential implications inaccurate reporting can have on readers because of the effect misleading information often has on receivers of that information.
Kezia Parrott complained under Clause 1 in relation to the code requirement of accuracy, and clause 12 (Discrimination) the guidance stated that the terms “chest feeding” or “chest milk”, among other gender neutral terminology, were to be used “for the production of documents, protocols and communications” and “when discussing pregnancy, birth and parenting at a population level (for example, at meetings, study days or antenatal parent education)”.
The guidance went on to state: “These language changes do not apply when discussing or caring for individuals in a one-on-one capacity where language and documentation should reflect the gender identity of the individual.
“When caring for cis women it is good practice to use terminology that is meaningful and appropriate to the individual; this may include terms such as woman, mother or breastfeeding.”
Denying a breach of Code, the EDP said where the guidance had stated that it was not acceptable to use the term “breast feeding” to certain individuals, it was not inaccurate to report that “breast feeding” or “breast milk” were “no longer acceptable”.
However, on receipt of the complaint and prior to IPSO’s investigation, it added a clarification to the online version of the column.
IPSO found the EDP had reported that Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust had said the terms “breast-feeding” or “breast milk” were “no longer acceptable”.
It had also stated that “we must start saying ‘chest feeding’ or ‘chest milk’ to be more inclusive”.
It is not the first time the publication has come under fire for inaccurate reporting. Last year, The Eastern Daily Expressed was rapped by the regulator after publishing the wrong address where a police raid had taken place, and claimed to have been misinformed by the police as to the correct address.