Disability Equality in the Media: Representation, Accessibility, Management - Practical Manual

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 01:37

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"Embracing diversity in the media unlocks the potential of a vast and growing audience: persons with disabilities."

This manual is designed to provide hands-on advice to the media on how to ensure fair and unbiased coverage of disability as well as equal and meaningful engagement and participation of persons with disabilities. It offers practical guidance in three main areas: producing inclusive editorial content and equitable media programming; making media content and operations accessible to persons with disabilities; and adopting inclusive management practices. Published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the manual (as well as the accompanying video series mentioned below) is designed to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and promotes freedom of expression, media development, and access to information for the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in public debate.

As explained in the manual, "Despite all the positive changes happening in newsrooms and leadership roles, diversity in the media remains a challenge. When certain groups are left out, the media fails to present all angles of a story, missing diverse perspectives and innovative ideas. Consequently, audiences do not receive the full picture, and promises of fair and accurate representation often fall short, affecting our perceptions of each other in society. It is the case of persons with disabilities, who make up 16 percent of the global population but remain one of the most marginalized groups. Media coverage frequently overlooks them, and when their stories are told, they are often framed through stereotypes. This not only creates barriers but also denies them their rights. To address this, media organizations should enhance editorial policies and representation, improve employment conditions, and foster a more inclusive environment for professionals with disabilities."

The manual consists of five parts. Throughout, the chapters showcase short case studies that provide information on existing good practices in the media, civil society, the public and private sectors, and international organisations.

Part 1: Editorial content and equitable media programming
In this chapter, the manual invites reflection on key principles and approaches in media framing and explores how disability intersects with age, race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and sociocultural, economic, and political status. It also provides practical recommendations (to-do lists) for assessing how the media represents the views, needs, and behaviours of persons with disabilities. Specific advice is given on using inclusive language and interviewing techniques for sources with disabilities. Special attention is given to the investigation of disability issues and the importance of the media responding effectively when covering crises and natural disasters.

Part 2: Making media content and operations accessible
This chapter presents the legal obligations and technical standards to make media content accessible to persons with disabilities. Practical tips are offered on how to make media content in print media, radio, television, and digital formats more accessible.

Part 3: Inclusive management practices
This chapter is designed to help media professionals (editors, reporters, journalists, producers, managers, human resources professionals, and technical teams) implement policies and practices that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. Practical recommendations are offered to create an inclusive workplace and demonstrate the benefits of improved internal representation. Suggestions are also made on how to make operational and management practices more inclusive for media professionals with disabilities.

Part 4: Technical tables
This chapter includes all the practical to-do lists that are referenced throughout the previous sections of the manual, such as to-do lists on creating disability-inclusive editorial policies, ways to portray persons with disabilities, and key considerations when choosing language around disability.

Part 5: Resources and references
This chapter provides a list of resources and references, a glossary, and endnotes that could be useful information for practitioners to develop new policies and practices.

Accompanying the manual, UNESCO has also developed a Master Class Video Series on Disability Equality in the Media. It is also designed for all media professionals, from editors, reporters, and presenters to designers, content managers, and technical staff, as well as human resources officers and managers.

The series includes the following videos, which are also available with sign language and subtitles: