An in-depth analysis of the media coverage of the ‘conversion therapy’ bill which was passed in Parliament in February has found that support for the law received a heavily biased share of the mainstream media coverage during the campaign period. The overall bias is a deeply concerning observation about the way the mainstream media covered this important social debate. It is disappointing that a number of media outlets and journalists pushed one side of the ‘conversion therapy’ debate so biasedly. The media should report the full debate – not lead it – and leave the public to come to their own conclusion. Sadly, this bias was evidenced during the recent cannabis referendum also. We should be able to trust the mainstream media to participate in social debate in a non-partisan way.
