MailOnline apologises for ‘incorrectly’ reporting on Mermaids’ hormones stance

The MailOnline has apologised to Mermaids UK, which supports gender-diverse kids, admitting that it “incorrectly” represented the charity’s views on transgender children and hormone medication.

The publication issued a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging that an article published on November 30 fell below standards expected by press regulator IPSO to “avoid inaccurate, misleading or distorted reporting of issues affecting transgender children.”

In the November 30 article, the MailOnline had included an incomplete quote from Mermaids, claiming that the charity considers hormone drugs “can subject a young person to distressing bodily changes that can lead to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideas.”

MailOnline admits it fell below standards required to report on transgender children

However, in the full statement from Mermaids, the charity had said that it is instead the “waiting times” for such drugs that can cause this distress.

The MailOnline admitted to making the mistake in the article, which was also published in the Daily Mail without the Mermaids quote.

“We are happy to make their position clear, and apologise for the error,” reads the MailOnline’s statement in its in its “Clarifications and Corrections” column on January 9.

“This article also appeared in the Daily Mail without this quote.”

MailOnline has apologised to Mermaids UK. (MailOnline)

The statement continues: “In guidance IPSO makes clear that the highest professional standards are required to avoid inaccurate, misleading or distorted reporting of issues affecting transgender children.

“This is particularly important where the subject is a medical issue that may affect the wellbeing of such children. Mailonline acknowledges such standards were not met in this case.”

It comes after The Sunday Times published a correction regarding its July 2018 article on public women’s toilets and trans women in the City of London, following an IPSO ruling earlier this week.

The MailOnline has since updated the November 30 article to remove the entire comment from Mermaids UK, while adding an explanation about the correction at the bottom.