Pronouns in news reports

[SuperSleepyBaby]

Would the BBC use pronouns like ze/zir in a news report if the person they were writing about said they wanted them used? It would confuse almost all readers but if they are committed to using ‘preferred pronouns’ would they have to use these to?

I expect they decide on a “house style”, like most media organisations. Why don’t you ask them?

I guess I could ask- just wondering how it works.

i just find it interesting as on what basis could they agree to use - he - she - they - but not use ze/zir etc. Then they would be saying only certain types of pronouns are acceptable.

But if they did agree to use them then it wouldn’t be easy to read.

Good question.

From the style guide:

'We generally use the term and pronoun preferred by the person in question, unless there are editorial reasons not to do so. If that’s unknown – apply that which fits with the way the person lives publicly. If reporting on someone who is making their transition public, it may be appropriate to refer to their previous identity to help audience understanding. It may also be appropriate to refer to a transition to make sense of some stories.'

So they could use ze / zir etc.

what if the story was about two or three people who all used these different types of pronouns- it could get quite confusing and unreadable. Maybe unlikely to happen but just interesting to think of the potentials.

We generally use the term and pronoun preferred by the person in question, unless there are editorial reasons not to do so.

I've never come across neopronouns used in any mainstream news and would expect that the BBC would not use pseudowords like zie/zir for the very valid editorial reason that they are not English language and would not be understood by the vast majority of readers and listeners. Quite possibly not by journalists and editors, either.

Though as it would therefore be hypocritical to use cross-sex pronouns to describe, oh, let me think, a rapist, perhaps I am misguided in crediting the BBC with the common sense implied in their style guide.