This week we had a fascinating conversation with Helen Joyce, a journalist and expert in media markets - and Director of Advocacy at the human rights charity Sex Matters. Formerly an editor at the Economist across a series of briefs, she wrote Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality in 2021 and has become one of the best-known and most articulate voices on the issue.

In this week’s episode:

* Helen’s own experience of becoming a media ‘untouchable’ after speaking out on the reality of sex

* The reality of media tactics to reframe coverage of ‘gender’ and free speech

* Why she thinks the BBC should have the licence fee removed (and you’ll be surprised at the response)

Links to the stories we talked about in this episode

Supreme Court ruling brings clarity - BBC April 19 2025

Susan Smith on Woman’s Hour April 23 2025

BBC Newscast - The trans ex-judge challenging the Supreme Court ruling

Being targeted by Lynsay Watson - by Helen Joyce

Why the BBC deserves to be defunded - by Helen Joyce

How Auntie excludes - The Critic June 2023

Trans woman loses case over Brianna Ghey X posts - BBC

Trans activist linked to Graham Linehan arrest is disgraced police officer sacked for branding free speech campaigner a woman beater and a Nazi - Daily Mail

Media chaos in Brazil - LatAm Journalism Review

Helen Joyce on Woman’s Hour May 14 2025

Helen Joyce and Professor Sophie Scott on Woman’s Hour February 2020

Free-speech champion harassed by trans police officer is accused of hate crime - Telegraph

Julie Bindel’s Substack

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