Summary of complaint
We received a complaint that the contributors in a discussion inaccurately attributed anti-transgender views to the author JK Rowling and that this went unchallenged by the programme.
Our response
The intention of this discussion was to focus on the release of the video game Hogwarts Legacy. Β Within the gaming community a debate has been underway, with some taking the decision not to purchase the game and some websites not reviewing it. Β The debate was cast with two gamers – one who had bought the game and one who was refusing to purchase it. Β It was our intention to focus on this issue within the gaming community, hearing from two contributors with different views. Β However, having reviewed the discussion as broadcast, it’s clear the debate got into the issue of gender identity and claims were made about JK Rowling’s views. Β We accept that the programme failed to challenge these claims and acknowledge that our contributors gave their opinion as fact. Β This fell below the rigorous editorial standards we’ve applied to our broad coverage of trans and gender recognition stories across Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland’s news and current affairs output, and we apologise for that.Β