Chapter three: consultations with disabled New Zealanders
Introduction and methodology
This chapter contains feedback from three consultation meetings with disabled New Zealanders, and the results of an online survey.
Three consultation meetings were held to gather disabled people’s views about media coverage of disability issues. Meetings occurred in Auckland and Dunedin.
At each meeting, general discussion took place about the Convention. The meeting participants were then split into three groups. Each group appointed a facilitator and scribe. Six questions about media coverage of disability issues were then discussed within the smaller groups. Following the discussions, the attendees regrouped for feedback and further discussion.
Attendees reported a range of opinions about media portrayals of disabled people. One of the most commonly-cited representations was disabled people as objects of charity. The charity viewpoint depicts disabled people as passive victims who receive help from benevolent, proactive providers of charity, hence media features that are sometimes framed as ‘feel-good’ stories about charity work done for ‘the disabled.’
Attendees expressed concerns that the charity angle tells the public that disabled people are helpless and are a convenient outlet for nondisabled people’s altruistic inclinations.
Many attendees noted that using the charity perspective to portray disabled people might sometimes be a ‘necessary evil’ to stimulate munificence and thus encourage members of the public to give to disability-related causes.
Attendees often also referred to the heroic angle. This perspective describes disabled people as super-human for overcoming disability and achieving against the odds.
In general, attendees said they found this representation highly patronising. Concerns were expressed about nondisabled people having unfair and unrealistic expectations of disabled people from media stories that use the heroic angle. It was suggested that based on such stories, non-disabled people might come to believe that if a person with a disability is not a high achiever, he or she is simply not trying hard enough i.e. the erroneous notion that disability is a matter of choice and could be overcome with the right attitude.
However, some attendees advised that media features that highlight disabled people as heroes could be inspiring.
Slightly over half of attendees recollected a recent example of outstanding journalism about disabled people. The main reason given for a story being perceived as exceptional was the story focusing on the ordinariness of a disabled subject, rather than portraying him or her as needy or superhuman.
Questions and feedback
Responses have been selected on the basis of their representation of the general feeling of the meetings.
Question 1: Have you ever heard or read a news story concerning disabled people you felt uncomfortable about? If so, why did you feel uncomfortable?
One person told of a former TV reporter turning up at the home of a disabled person who had been accused of a crime, insisting on getting a response from the man, about ‘why he did it’. “I feel that it’s the court’s decision to question him not the reporter’s and should they want the story they should get it from the court.”
Pacific people with disability believe that the mainstream media is sometimes not capable of covering stories about them in a professional manner, due to lack of awareness and understanding.
We want more local stories, more local people on all shows. Why should there be a separate show for disabled people? We are part of the community and we should be included in other programs, magazines and social media, in a positive, inclusive light - not as tokens, or to promote ‘convenient weakness’.
A recent news story about a woman whose wheelchair got stuck on the train tracks in West Auckland was discussed at some length by meeting participants. “You got the feeling that the issue was swept under the carpet. Language was not ‘user friendly’ e.g. ‘wheelchair bound’. False impressions are often given by negative language.”
Other concerns included media selecting one person with a disability to speak for an entire group with similar disabilities, media depicting disabled people as having a sense of entitlement to privileges such as free public transport, and media excluding disabled people from mainstream coverage. Media reports of disabled people tend to focus on their disabilities and/or are on programmes specifically about disability issues, such as ‘Attitude’, and not mainstream media programmes.
Question 2: Have you had any personal experiences with the media? If so, how did they approach your disability?
One attendee said he had been interviewed about blind sports for overseas tours several times. He felt that the media treated him well.
A person went on television to talk about his disability and shared intimate parts of his life story. Due to the sensitivity of parts of the story, this person was contacted after by his family who denied that his ‘story’ took place. As a result, the person is now very wary of having any involvement with the media.
Question 3: What message do you THINK is conveyed to the public, in stories focusing on disabled people from the following perspectives:
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Medical story. Where disabled people are portrayed as sick or needing a cure: One person in discussion about this question noted that “reported miracles may not even be real”.
The disability may not be a sickness nor have a cure. Indirectly the media is giving the public the wrong message that they need a cure.
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Heroic story. Where disabled people are portrayed as super-human for overcoming disability and achieving against the odds:
Journalists sometimes portray disabled people as pitiful cripples, super achievers or insane mental patients.
Similar views were expressed by several meeting participants and all noted this type of portrayal was extremely unhelpful.
Disabled sports people were given as examples. Despite the hype, their successes are often inspirational for other disabled people. The moment they lose no one wants to know.
Successful people can be role models for the young disabled people.
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Disability as charity. Where disabled people are portrayed as victims. Stories are sometimes framed as “feel-good” stories about charity work done for “the disabled”:
It was felt by many meeting participants that media (advertisers/journalists) and charities sometimes present a particularly distorted view of disability and disabled people to raise money: “It’s really absurd – however in both cases (we) disabled people are the losers.”
The point was also made that disabled people “have a responsibility to correct media when they get it wrong”. One person said they always ask the media for a draft before going to print.
Disabled people aren’t at all like how charity agencies portray us. The media needs to know that we are normal people leading normal lives.
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Rights approach. Where disabled people are portrayed as having the same rights as other people. These stories may talk about barriers to participation in society:
Many people noted that the media can be a powerful tool for advocating the support needs of disabled people, for example, “initial denial of an application for housing was turned into a positive outcome when the media got involved”. Likewise, the parliamentary funding issue about Member of Parliament, Mojo Mathers, was cited as an issue where the media was most helpful in promoting her rights.
Again, much discussion centred on the 25 February 2013 railway crossing accident noted before. One meeting participant advised that a prominent media personality said “she should not have been out on her own”.
Question 4: What messages do you believe are conveyed by stories about people with a condition perceived as a risk to the public?
Meeting participants were very clear that these messages were all extremely negative. It was noted that people with experience of mental illness are particularly susceptible to media demonisation.
The message is we’re sinister or evil – which is still commonly associated with deformity.”
Objects of curiosity or violence.
Messages are all pretty negative demonstrating ignorance and poor attitudes. We only hear about the rare, bad cases such as a mentally ill patient who has been discharged, then goes on to murder someone.
There is not enough emphasis on people with ‘invisible’ disabilities. It’s ‘seeing is believing’. If people can’t see your disability, who says you have one? More positive media attention and care is needed to flesh out such positive stories of our mentally ill and intellectually disabled members of society.
A recent story was recalled about a gentleman with cerebral palsy who uses a power chair who was denied service from a tavern in Auckland’s Queen Street. “He sounded drunk to the staff member. She denied him the $15 special for fish and chips with a beer.”
Question 5: Can you think of any recent stories about disabled people that fit into any of those categories mentioned above? If so, which do you believe are the most common angles in media stories about disabled people?
Meeting participants highlighted the fact that media portrayals of disabled people tend to use the charity and heroic angles. It was noted that people with “invisible” disabilities, such as mental illness and deafness, tend to be excluded from media coverage, yet there is a focus on people with visible disabilities, such as wheelchair users. Meeting participants reported the following as being the most common angles in stories about disability issues:
Incorrect assumptions like the Disability Superpower – whereas fate removes one ability, it enhances others.
Disability itself is often used as a hook by writers and film-makers to draw audiences into the story. These one-dimensional stereotypes are often distanced from the audience - where characters are only viewed through their impairment, and not valued as people.
Stories are emotive and feed and reinforce the stereotypes. Attitude TV is screened at such a time that no one would watch it. There needs to be more qualified disabled people creating the stories about disabled people.
More positive integration of disabled people in the media is required before any of the above barriers will be broken down.
Because of the way the media operates, they are only there for certain disabilities. They are really concentrating on people in wheelchairs and moderate disabilities.
Question 6: Can you recall an example of outstanding journalism on the subject of rights for disabled people? If so, why did you think it was outstanding?
Opinion was mixed on this question. The following is a sample of comments from those people who couldn’t recall an example of outstanding journalism:
Have seen very little evidence of this occurring in New Zealand.
None that I can say is ‘outstanding’. They all seem similar.
No. There has never been one in this country in my lifetime.
On the other hand, the following comments illustrate an awareness of what was felt to be outstanding journalism relating to various disability issues.
A story published by the Dominion Post newspaper in 2011 about participation of disabled people in general elections was felt to have been a very good story.
A Deaf person recalled a television interview of a Deaf man and Deaf woman using New Zealand Sign Language. “It was really good showing what people with interpreters can say. Very positive story. I felt empathetic with the couple. It gave me confidence. The Deaf man explained his boundaries within the D eaf community. It gave more awareness of sign language which is one of the three official languages in N.Z.” The meeting participant hopes the programme will be rebroadcast in the future.
One of the participants spoke of a hui for Māori with disabilities having been broadcast on Māori Television.
Work with Auckland Transport electric trains was a good news story. The middle carriage of the three-car trains will be truly accessible and functional. Auckland Transport has taken this on board well.
Online Survey
As well as the meetings noted above, both an online and paper-based survey ran for several weeks during April and May, which featured the same questions as those posed at the consultation meetings. A total of 55 people took part in the survey.
Question 1: Have you ever heard or read a news story concerning disabled people you felt uncomfortable about? If so, why did you feel uncomfortable?
51 out of 55 respondents (92.7%) reported that they had felt uncomfortable after hearing or reading a news story about disabled people:
I have heard news stories that imply disabled people can't do things like sing or play sports or work, without having to ‘overcome’ their impairments.
Disabled people are either portrayed as ‘supercrips’ for doing something quite ordinary or as tragic figures to be pitied.
The stories around people with psychiatric/psychological disabilities and criminal activity have been very unbalanced. These stories have tended to sensationalise criminal offending by people in these groups which is, actually, negligible.
Question 2: Have you had any personal experiences with the media? If so, how did they approach your disability?
34 out of 55 respondents (61.8%) had personal experiences with the media. The responses to how the media approached survey respondents’ disabilities were mixed:
I have had a lot of interaction with the media. Recently, the media have been good. Using positive images of me doing or advocating for equal access for blind Southlanders.
I am proactive leader within the Deaf community and I have been approached by the media few times. They were trying to give sympathy or asking irrelevant questions. I understand it is not their fault but it is our [Deaf Community's] responsibility to educate media agencies about our identity, culture and language.
Not the best – talked down to me and talked to the people who were with me instead of me.
Question 3: What message do you THINK is conveyed to the public, in stories focusing on disabled people from the following perspectives:
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Medical story. Where disabled people are portrayed as sick or needing a cure: “That we are not humans.”
Reinforces stereotypes and perceptions that disability is a sickness, a liability, and a drain on resources.
This might be appropriate in certain situations e.g. a development in treatment for multiple sclerosis. However it is still prevalent in what are human interest stories and still what the majority of non-disabled people focuses on and seems to believe this is what you focus your everyday life on which most disabled people I know don't. We focus on everyday rather than miracle cures.
That we should feel sorry for people as they haven't yet had their cure.
People pity us – ‘Oh, look at those poor people.’ Hey, we are human beings just like everybody else. People need to see what we can do not what we can’t.
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Heroic story. Where disabled people are portrayed as super-human for overcoming disability and achieving against the odds:
Not good for other disabled people who can’t achieve these things.
I think superhuman stories may be unhelpful for those people who are disabled as it may reinforce their lack of capabilities; however, more realistic achievements are inspirational and encourage hope.
Great - inspiring and often very moving. They always remind us that we can all take charge of our attitudes to making the best of life.
Super Crips away! I am continually angered by the old line of ‘this person has triumphed over their disability.’ I end up wondering when society will see that the disability is not in me, it's within them.
Same sort of message as I saw outside a shop front today: ‘The only disability is a bad attitude’ - giving the impression that all people with disabilities could overcome their challenges if only they tried harder.
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Disability as charity. Where disabled people are portrayed as victims. Stories are sometimes framed as “feel-good” stories about charity work done for “the disabled”:
Give them money to shut them up.
It sends a message that disabled people are powerless and charities are noble for helping them. However, relying on charity is disempowering. We need jobs and opportunities to prove ourselves and to have good lives.
In general I think these stories have a positive effect as long as there is a balance of how people with disabilities can still contribute to their own lives and their community and how important it is that they have control over their care and support.
The message is that disabled people need your help, and are here mainly to make you feel good.
I have been responsible for writing these stories for one of NZ's leading charities and it is a hard task. We strove to write stories that empowered the individual yet still demonstrated need. People don't always open their purse strings easily so it can be a hard task. We also always tried to include a positive outcome e.g. giving the audience the reason to give to help achieve this outcome. I'm sure I didn't please everyone!
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Rights approach. Where disabled people are portrayed as having the same rights as other people. These stories may talk about barriers to participation in society:
This is the type of story I'd like to see more of! This is where we, as disabled people, are seen to be fighting for our rights, rather than just accepting pity or having the medical aspects of our impairments over-emphasised!
These are good stories but they must be taken into context. Rights come with responsibilities. Disabled people must have the same rights as other people but they must also be responsible for their actions.
This is a positive message and should be welcomed. They should emphasise that it is society that disables people not the condition they live with.
Disabled people are stroppy and ungrateful. What are rights anyway?
Informative and empowering.
Question 4: What messages do you believe are conveyed by stories about people with a condition perceived as a risk to the public?
Stay away, we are people to be scared of, don’t let these people in your town.
Please lock them away somewhere in a different neighbourhood so I can forget about them. And some media commentators - like Michael Laws in the Sunday Star Times - give the impression they would prefer euthanasia of disabled people he perceived as a risk, or if not that then at the least medical treatment like drugs to reduce ‘risk’.
Depends on disability. People with mental health illness get the hardest time.
That every person with it should be locked up and not on the streets.
These stories simply reinforce old stereotypes and attitudes about people with psychiatric or psychological impairments. These attitudes then feed into societal behaviour(s) around these groups in terms of, for example, employment discrimination.
Question 5: Can you think of any recent stories about disabled people that fit into any of those categories mentioned above? If so, which do you believe are the most common angles in media stories about disabled people?
39 out of 44 respondents (88.6%) advised that they could think of recent stories about disabled people that fit into one or more of the categories mentioned earlier.
Some respondents selected only one category, whereas others chose two or more categories. In total, the respondents made 58 selections.
- Medical angle: 11 (19.0%)
- Heroic angle: 21 (36.2%)
- Charity angle: 21 (36.2%)
- Rights angle: 5 (8.6%)
- Risk angle: 0 (0.0%)
Question 6: Can you recall an example of outstanding journalism on the subject of rights for disabled people? If so, why did you think it was outstanding?
31 out of 52 respondents (59.6%) recalled recent examples of outstanding journalism about rights for disabled people.
Because the story was well balanced and provided factual information not myths. The disabled person was portrayed as being sensible and reliable. They were able to make up their own minds or have an advocate who talked to them and helped them to articulate what they wanted to say, not what the advocate wanted to say.
‘Attitude TV’ programmes show other people in the community what disabled people can do when they have a chance.
There have been some documentary TV shows on lives of ordinary people who are disabled. They succeeded by treating the people as ordinary. Not to everyone's taste but I liked this about the TV show stories of the Seven Dwarfs. I liked the recent interviews on Campbell Live with the young woman who had survived the residential facility. She was brave and resolute, and the takeaway message was that disabled people in care should be treated with respect.
The story focused on the ordinary-ness of the person, e.g.: also a mother, sister, daughter, etc and focused on the barriers in society that impact on the person, highlighting who is responsible to remove those barriers.
Media covering disabled people not being able to fly on planes without a caregiver was a good example of a rights-based perspective.
Conclusion
Overall, feedback from the consultation meetings and survey strongly highlight the need for staff of New Zealand media outlets to undertake regular disability awareness and responsiveness training. Disabled people who are experienced in providing such education should deliver the training. The following topics could be included:
- Impairment does not automatically equate to illness.
- Disabled people are not necessarily searching for a cure.
- The difference between appropriate language versus inappropriate terminology.
- Discussion about how media coverage might, unintentionally or deliberately, demonise groups within the disability sector that are already marginalised. This is particularly applicable to people with experience of mental illness.
- Advice that people with mental illness and disabled people in general, are far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators of brutality.
- How media portrayals might, inadvertently or intentionally, inculcate a ‘blame the victim’ mentality in the public by a) suggesting that if a person with impairment(s) does not ‘overcome’ his or her disability, he or she is not trying hard enough, and b) insinuating that a disabled person brought an accident, violence, etc. on him or herself, by being out in public unsupervised.
- Reflection on whether it is correct and proper to frame a disabled person’s impairment as something to be triumphed over.
- Discussion about whether it is necessary for a disabled person’s impairment to be the focus of a media story.
- The importance of emphasising the humanity of disabled people and not representing disabled people as sick, heroic, deprived, or dangerous.
In the interest of instilling disability responsiveness in New Zealand media circles, the latter topics need to be incorporated into journalism training programmes at tertiary institutions nationwide. Furthermore, suitably qualified disabled people, confident delivering such training, must provide this.
Disabled people and people (disabled and non-disabled) who work in the disability sector have a responsibility to speak up and highlight to media outlets, examples of good and poor coverage of disability issues. However, it is recognised that as disabled people are considerably disadvantaged compared to non-disabled people with regard to education, employment and income (Human Rights Commission, 2001), lobbying media outlets is unlikely to be a priority in the disability sector until disabled people’s basic needs are met. The onus is on media students and professionals to be receptive to disability responsiveness education and to integrate theory into their coverage of disability issues.