Bad news for disabled people: how the newspapers are reporting disability

Author's summary

Inclusion London commissioned the Glasgow Media Group and the Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research to carry out a study to analyse changes in the way the news media are reporting disability and how it has impacted on public attitudes towards disabled people. This research had three main aims:

To examine how the media are covering disability and to document changes in this coverage.

To examine how this is impacting on public attitudes to disabled people.

To consider the impact that any trends identified in the research may have on the lives of disabled people: for example, in affecting attitudes to disabled people or support for or opposition to cuts in benefits accessed by disabled people.

Resource Center comment

This report, produced by the Glasgow Media Group and the Strathclyde Center for Disability Research of the University of Glasgow, was commissioned by Inclusion London. It focuses on the ways in which newspapers report on disability. The aim of the study is to specifically examine three points: how the media cover disability, what is the impact on the public, and what the consequences of these two elements are for people with disabilities. The methodology was based on the analysis of newspaper content and their audience reception. This document may interest journalists, and disabled people’s organizations (DPO) working on awareness-raising actions. This little discussed subject represents the main interest of this study. 

Ce rapport, réalisé par le Glasgow Media Group et le Strathclyde Center for Disability Research de l’Université de Glasgow, a été commandé par Inclusion London. Il porte sur l’analyse de la façon dont les journaux abordent la question du handicap. L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner en particulier les trois aspects suivants : la façon dont les médias font référence au handicap, quel est son impact sur le public et quelles sont les conséquences de ces deux éléments pour les personnes handicapées. La méthodologie est basée sur l’analyse des contenus des journaux et de leur réception par les lecteurs. Ce document peut intéresser les journalistes et les Organisations de Personnes Handicapées travaillant sur les actions de sensibilisation. Le sujet encore peu abordé de cette étude constitue son intérêt majeur. Cependant, l’étude n’est représentative que de la situation en Grande Bretagne, et l’aspect recherche appliquée n’est pas assez affirmé.