Stag attack victim Dr Kate Stone appointed to press regulator’s code committee
An academic who took action after a number of newspapers identified her as transgender has been appointed to the press regulator’s editors’ code committee.
The now-defunct Press Complaints Commission held up her complaints about the coverage, with a number of stories focussing on her trans status, with headlines including “Sex swap scientist in fight for life”, “Sex-swap scientist gored by stag”, and “Deer spears sex-swap Kate”.
Dr Stone has today been appointed as a lay member of the Editors’ Code of the Practice Committee by the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which succeeded the Press Complaints Commission.
IPSO said in a statement: “Dr Kate Stone. The founder of Novalia, a Cambridge technology company that adds digital interactive touch to everyday things.
“Dr Stone has previous experience of using the Editors’ Code to bring a complaint about newspaper coverage.”
Chairman of the Editors’ Code Committee Paul Dacre – whose own paper was one of those Dr Stone complained against – said: “We welcome the appointment of these distinguished lay members, which fulfils the commitment we made in the aftermath of the Leveson Inquiry to ensure the public were represented on the Editors’ Code Committee, the body responsible for writing the Editors’ Code of Practice.
“They will play a vital role in guaranteeing the Editors’ Code remains the standard against which all British journalism is judged.”
Sir Alan Moses, Chairman of IPSO said: “I am delighted that we were able to attract such a high calibre field. The Editors’ Code is the standard that IPSO uses to regulate the press.
“The addition of lay members is a welcome development and I am sure the Committee will benefit from the perspectives the new appointees bring.”
