Journalism diversity is about more than who is hired to work in the newsroom, it’s about telling stories that reflect the complexity of our diverse society.
This article is based on an extract from the UNESCO’s Disability Equality in the Media report, which concludes that the best way to improve disability coverage is terms of diversity of output is to adopt a human rights-based approach. The manual was released under the Creative Commons BY-SA licence. Media Helping Media has studied the report and extracted the following.
The human rights based approach
According to UNESCO, all too often, people with disabilities are excluded from the news agenda. When they are included, coverage frequently relies on tired stereotypes: treating people as objects of pity, as inspirational exceptions, or as people whose entire identity is defined by their impairment. This results in weak, shallow reporting that misses the mark for your audience.
Instead of viewing disability through the lens of charity or medical treatment, the UNESCO report recommends that journalists must frame people with disabilities as active citizens with rights, opinions, and a vital place in public life.
The report recommends that for a media organisation to improve editorial coverage, news managers should consider the following steps:
- Integrate disability into mainstream output: Do not limit disability coverage to special interest slots. Ensure disabled sources and experts are consulted in political, economic, sports, and cultural reporting.
- Master your language: Avoid words that imply helplessness or superhero status. Always ask: “Does this language respect the person’s dignity and individual agency?”
- Professionalise your interviewing: Treat disabled sources with the same standard of rigour as any other expert. Prepare for reasonable adjustments, listen carefully, and never talk down to your subject.
- Check your framing: If your story frames disability as a personal tragedy or burden, pause. Redirect your focus toward the environmental or societal barriers that prevent participation.
- Audit your coverage: Editors should conduct regular reviews to identify patterns of under-representation. Having a diverse team is the most effective way to spot these blind spots early.
