"Guidelines for news reporting and disabilities"

The media in my opinion doesn't have a huge impact on the way I have viewed disabled persons. I strongly feel that growing up, friends, T.V. and most importantly being ignorant to the word "retarded" "mentally disable" or "mentally ill". For example, I would call this an example of "unconsciously incompetent" (you don't know ...what you do not know)...When I was a kid (referring to my elementary school years) retarded was a word that we would throw around so loosely, we had no idea what the true meaning and significance of the word really meant, nor did we understand the impact it made if we were making fun of someone who was in fact retarded. Now that I am older (consciously competent) and more knowledgeable about the significance of the word I am more sensitive to the subject. Therefore I wouldn't go around calling people retarded.

The media has a duty to be fair, accurate, precise, and unbias. If the media were to say a word out of context that were to offend a disabled persons they would definitely receive phone calls from the viewers. As a journalist, your credibility and your name is all you have. It is your responsibility to make certain there are no lines crossed when communicating your story to the public. On the other hand, the newsroom does have a say in which stories they air each day, sometimes some stories are more significant than others, resulting in more news coverage (especially if it is an ongoing case) Therefore, viewers only see what they see on T.V. and start believing what they view on T.V and form opinions (or stereotypes). It's not the news that tells you how to think, its the news that tells you what to think about. (agenda setting theory)

Many euphemisms such as "physically challenged" or "visually challenged" etc.. have become way around calling people with disabilities "handicapped" in so many words...in my opinion. Unless the person identifies himself with a disability , it would be best to avoid using terms as crippled or deformed. Instead, use "people with disabilities"

I do feel that in order to be knowledgeable about a disability you either (A.) have to be interested in human disabilities, you study it, etc. (B) you have a disability so you are conscious about disabilities (C) or you know someone with a disablity.
The only disabilities I frequently hear about on the news is people who have cases of Schizophrenia who have committed crimes, people with Alzheimers who have walked out the front door and are now missing, or people who are going through a state of depression shooting up an entire school, or jumping off bridges to try and commit suicide.(which I wouldn't consider this a disability..rather a current state of mind)

News in general is depressing, so if there are cases of mental disorders or people with disabilities that make news headlines or the 6p.m. news then most likely the story is going to be a negative about that person with disabilities.
So...I guess what I am trying to say is that it's not necessarily the news' fault if people feel that the media stereotypes people with disabilities, linking them all to crimes..and what not.... The media is just doing it's job...reporting newsworthy news.

The only good news I hear about disabled persons is mostly in the mornings (A.M.) newscasts and a news talent is at a hospital helping out with a charity.