Disabled Images

University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2011 An exploration of the adherence of journalists in Australia to established media guidelines on the depiction of people with disability Shawn G. Burns University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Burns, Shawn G., An exploration of the adherence of journalists in Australia to established media guidelines on the depiction of people with disability, Master of Arts - Research thesis, University of Wollongong. Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong, 2011. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3406 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact Manager Repository Services: [email protected]. An exploration of the adherence of journalists in Australia to established media guidelines on the depiction of people with disability. How do journalists use frames to depict people with disability in the media? Why do journalists apply particular frames? What impact does that media coverage have on community perceptions of people with disability? A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts - Research University of Wollongong By Shawn G. Burns University of Wollongong 2011 1 Abstract The representation of people with disability in the news media has been the focus of attention in Australia and beyond for many years. There has been much written about how people with disability are shown in television news bulletins and daily and non-daily newspapers. At the heart of much of this writing has been discussion about the frames journalists use to represent people with disability. This thesis seeks to build on that work by exploring the adherence of journalists to existing media guidelines in Australia on the representation of people with disability. This work incorporates a mixed methodology to explore the way people with disability are presented in newspapers and television; why they are presented that way and what impact that representation has on the general public’s perception of people with disability. 2 Acknowledgements I will not pretend this has been an easy process. News reporters do not easily extract themselves from the world of short and sharp sentences to the world of academic writing. However, the purpose has not been overshadowed by the process and to that end it has been a rewarding experience. I am indebted to the many hours of suggestion, scrutiny and support of my supervisor Prof. Stephen Tanner has supplied over the past two-and-a- half years. The subject matter of this thesis is a shared interest of Stephen and myself and that interest has benefited the project. I also wish to thank my co-supervisor Susan Angel, who has offered support and suggestion throughout the process, both of which have been gratefully accepted. It is important I recognise the contribution of those who were willing to take part in the interview process and to open themselves and their work to scrutiny. The journalists, academics and disability advocates who gave their time have assisted in making it a rounded product. My thanks go to Joan Hume, the creator of the Disability Council of NSW Media Guidelines. Joan is a long-standing advocate for people with disability and her work for the Disability Council of NSW in 1994 has stood the test of time. Thank you Joan. Special mention must be made of my mother, Sue, who spent many hours transcribing interviews. Thank you Mum. And thank you Dad for assisting in your own way. I also thank my family-in-law. Much of the time spent on this thesis was spent tucked away in a room in my parents-in-law Pat & Brian’s home. I neglected some chores. Thank you Pat and Brian. Finally, my thanks go to Gina and Mac. Macco, you put the smile on my dial and zing in my zang. Gina you are my dearest friend and closest ally. I don’t know where I’d be without you. 3 Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 4 List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 6 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1 - Introduction............................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 - Literature Review ................................................................................................... 14 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 14 Media guidelines history ....................................................................................................... 16 Disability & media debate ..................................................................................................... 18 History of disability ............................................................................................................... 21 Models of disability ............................................................................................................... 24 Prevalence of disability ......................................................................................................... 27 Legislation ............................................................................................................................. 28 United Nations ratification .................................................................................................... 31 Codes of Conduct .................................................................................................................. 32 Guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 38 Framing & agenda setting ..................................................................................................... 41 Media drivers ........................................................................................................................ 45 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 47 Chapter 3 - Methodology ........................................................................................................... 49 Theoretical framework .......................................................................................................... 49 Hypotheses ............................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter 4 - Content Analysis (Newspaper) ............................................................................... 63 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 85 Chapter 5 - Content Analysis (Television) ................................................................................ 87 Conclusion........................................................................................................................... 102 Chapter 6 – Case studies .......................................................................................................... 105 Case Studies (Newspaper) ................................................................................................... 109 Case Studies (Television) .................................................................................................... 144 Conclusion........................................................................................................................... 164 Chapter 7: Interview Analysis ................................................................................................. 167 Disability advocates ............................................................................................................ 169 Academics ........................................................................................................................... 173 Journalists ............................................................................................................................ 183 Conclusion........................................................................................................................... 190 4 Chapter 8: Conclusions/discussions ........................................................................................ 192 References ............................................................................................................................... 204 Appendix A: Australia ratifies UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities ........... 213 Appendix B: Words and phrases highlighted Disability Council of NSW Media Guidelines ................................................................................................................................ 214 Appendix C: Additional words and phrases included in the newspaper textual analysis ........ 215 Appendix D: Data Collection

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