In the media
How often do you get frustrated when you see media stories about ageing that rely on lazy stereotypes about older age as an inevitable time of decline and frailty?
Read on to find out how you can join our call for the UK press regulator to include age in its rules around avoiding discrimination.
The Editors’ Code of Practice
The Editors’ Code of Practice sets out the rules that newspapers and magazines regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) have agreed to follow. The Code is written and administered by the Editors’ Code Committee and enforced by IPSO.
Clause 12 in the Editors’ Code sets out expectations around avoiding discrimination. This includes avoiding prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual's race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability. But not age. We think this is a glaring omission.
Why does this matter?
Age is one of the Protected Characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 alongside other characteristics, such as race, sexuality and religion. Its exclusion from the Editors’ Code means there are no standards that the press must adhere to when reporting on age. This anomaly means the code fails to comply with the Equality Act and to treat all discrimination equally.
Our research shows that the media’s representation of older people is overwhelmingly negative and highly reliant on stereotypes. Articles frequently pit older people against younger generations and use dehumanising and divisive terms such as ‘bed blockers’, ‘boomers’ and ‘grannies’. They often include age when it has little relevance to the content of the article.
This all matters as ageism can have a hugely damaging impact on us as we get older – on our health, on our job prospects and the way we live our lives.
What we are looking to achieve
At Age Without Limits we want to change stereotypical narratives that we see in the media everyday. We believe that adding age to the Editors' Code would ensure that references to age must be appropriate in stories relating to older people, as IPSO regulates the majority of news outlets.
Updating the Editors' Code to include age is a necessary step toward more inclusive, accurate, and respectful journalism. It would encourage more accurate representation of ageing and older people in the media, enhance the quality of reporting, align with legal standards, and uphold the dignity of individuals across all age groups.
What can you do to help?
You can send an email to the CEO of IPSO, Charlotte Dewar, to complain about ageist media reporting and ask IPSO to consider including age in the Editors’ Code rules around avoiding discrimination.
Click the button below to get involved.
Download our social media pack, complete with draft posts and graphics, so you can strengthen the call for age to be added to the Editors' Code on your own channels.
Why do newspapers condescend, patronise and misrepresent older people?
Our Chief Executive, Dr Carole Easton OBE, analyses some of the worst headlines and looks at why newspapers produce such ageist content.