Disability

• Cumberbatch et al

  Studied a selection of British factual, drama and TV programmes and found disabled people were poorly represented in speaking roles
• Cumberbatch and Negrine

  Looked at British TV over 6 weeks and found roles for disabled people were based on pity/comedy

  • disabled actors never appeared as actors playing a person who happens to have a disability, only in roles about a disability
• Disabled people are poorly represented in powerful positions in the media, those with power often specialised in disabled issues

  • Peter White, born blind, went from hosting radio shows about disability to reporting on 2008 Olympic games
• Barnes

  Argued disabled people are often presented as dependent on charity/others and unable to contribute to local community
• Cumberbatch and Negrine

  Found people with limited experience on disability accepted media stereotypes with little concern

  • people with experience rejected media stereotypes, more critical