CBS News has recently altered its style guidelines relating to transgender individuals, opting to use the phrase “biological sex at birth,” as reported by multiple sources.
Tom Burke, the senior director of standards and practices at the network, sent out a memo indicating that “citation is not required” for this term. This change comes in light of an upcoming Supreme Court case concerning state restrictions on transgender athletes, particularly in women’s sports.
Interestingly, there was a follow-up report from CBS’s notable correspondent, who mentioned that the network should avoid adopting terms promoted by certain movements.
It appears that CBS News staff have received new directives aiming for equal treatment of Democrats and Republicans in their coverage.
Since the memo was issued, CBS News articles have consistently referenced “biological sex at birth” while reporting on the Supreme Court hearing. For instance, one article stated that if a student’s gender is in question, the athlete must provide documentation confirming their biological sex at birth.
Additionally, the controversy surrounding Bari Weiss, a senior editorial figure at CBS, highlights differing opinions within the network itself. Some insiders suggest there are two camps of critics—supporting or opposing her direction.
The justices engaged in over three hours of discussions regarding laws in West Virginia and Idaho that mandate designations based on biological sex at birth. These laws seek to restrict transgender girls and women from participating on teams that align with their gender identity.
CBS legal correspondent Crawford also utilized this new language in a report regarding the Supreme Court proceedings.
This shift in policy diverges from previous media standards. In 2023, the Associated Press recommended that journalists avoid the term “biological sex” altogether, advising the use of “sex assigned at birth” instead.
The AP style guide had previously cautioned against terms like “biological male” and “biological female,” noting they can be used by those against transgender rights to describe transgender individuals.
Since Paramount CEO David Ellison’s appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in October, CBS News has seen considerable editorial adjustments, sparking criticism from progressive media commentators.
