Open Doors paves way for better reporting on disability

Griffith University journalism students are at the forefront of a campaign to improve media representation of people with a disability.
Project Open Doors, which aims to develop positive media reporting around people with a disability, was launched by the Disability Discrimination Commissioner Alastair McEwin on Monday, July 10.
Project coordinator and journalism lecturer Faith Valencia says the goal of the project is to change the way people with a disability and their families, carers and support workers are represented in the media.
“The common media stereotypes of reporting of people with a disability can be to portray them as victims or villains. Often reporting is patronising and deficiency-based. People are cast as ‘others’ if they are even noticed at all,’’ she said.
As one in five Australians has a disability – be it physical, sensory, psycho-social or cognitive – Ms Valencia said there is a real need to challenge the perception of disability as ‘suffering’ and

See Full Post >>