You sabi as wahala dey for inside dem transgender matter? Na so new data show say coverage for transgender news don dey jump like kangaroo for 2023 because law makers don they bring plenty anti-trans legislation. But guess wetin? After the noise, attention don drop like wetin wey fall from waka-pass moto.

One big project wey waka come do this study na Trans News Initiative wey dey track five years of how different publications dey cover transgender people, and dem use over 200 publications follow analysis. Wetin dem find no too sweet as e show say when dem start to cover trans laws, the attention dey fly high but after that, e go back to normal levels as if nothing dey happen again.

Kae Petrin, wey be one of the brain behind Trans Journalists Association talk say this idea come from years of journalists dey discuss how coverage dey lack. Dem go dey ask, ‘How far with this kind report?’ but no enough data dey to hold their matter down – until now.

Petrin even recognize say for 2023, the interest show sharp rise, and na the anti-trans bills wey dey proposed for 2022 and 2023 wey contribe to am. But after the spike, the coverage just dey vanish; e be like say dem don carry dem eye go other place, even as cases dey still pile on top trans people dem.

Dem notice say most of the narratives wey dey capture journalists attention na those big debate wey dey go on top cancel culture, but wetin no dey shine light be how those laws dey affect real people wey dey face discrimination or struggle through these changes. Petrin talk say, ‘The coverage na abstract political debate, instead of following the real experience wey people dey face.’

Petrin impress say make news outlets dey do follow-up stories after the first hype don cool, to see how those laws dey play out. ‘We no dey see that kind follow-up wey clear for this matter,’ e conclude.

The Trans News Initiative no just focus on data alone; dem dey push to solve wetin dey hold journalists back. Dem dey also provide support for journalists through money wey dem fit use for more investigation and fellowship for deeper reporting. All of this na to ensure say dem dey cover trans stories better and more comprehensively.

As the talk dey go, Petrin add say wetin dey fuel dem na the stories of survival and the way communities dey face the wahala wey the laws bring. Dem go dey read about how communities dey build themselves despite the challenges and how people dey find joy amidst the difficulties. Na wetin give dem hope and the drive to continue the fight.