Media Development Foundation, MDF continues publishing media-monitoring results. Today we present the monitoring implemented by the expert - Vakhushti Menabde on the theme: Coverage of Issues of Persons with Disability by Media.
The goal of the monitoring was representation of people with disability and/or their problems in Georgian media in the period from 02.15.2012 to 03.15.2012. The subjects for the monitoring were further media means:
Weekly newspapers
1.Newspaper Qronika (weekly public-political newspaper);
2.Newspaper Kviris Palitra (weekly public-political newspaper);
3.Newspaper Prime Time (weekly public-political newspaper).
TV channels:
1.1 Channel of Public Broadcasting Television – Moambe;
2.Imedi – Qronika;
3.Rustavi 2 – Kurieri;
4.Kavkasia – Dges;
5.Maestro – Akhali Ambebi.
Within the process of monitoring total number of journalistic products covering the theme of the study was 9. The number of appropriate coverage of the theme (1) is significantly lower then the number of irrelevant coverage (8).
It should be noted that the coverage not meeting the standards is caused by the lack of knowledge in this area or by outdated skills. The majority of the journalistic products surveyed in the process of the monitoring (except the one indicating anti-social behavior) were characterized by the positive context and tried to avoid stressing negative aspects on persons with disability, more over, was oriented on problem-solving but, despite this, persons with disability were represented as the subjects of charity or were shown from the medical paradigm.
The research was carried out within the frames of Media Development Foundation, MDF project – Media Monitoring – for Professional Media (supported by Open Society – Georgia Foundation, OSFG). We would like to remind you that from April 1, 2011 till today there are already published the results of media monitoring and researches on 17 themes – Advertising in TV Media, Coverage of Gender Issues, the Standards of Coverage of Social Surveys and Media, Homophobia in Media, Crime Coverage, Informational Policy of TV Media and etc. In the next few days there is planned to publish new researches (based on the material of March-April and May) on further themes: Educational / Entertainment Talk Shows and Media Standard, Children’s Theme in Media (second report), Women’s Theme in Media, Coverage of Economic Issues, Coverage of Environmental protection Issues, Coverage of Conflicts by Media, etc. In total, an implementation and publication up to 36 short term (average of one month) media monitoring is planned within the frames of the project.
The detailed monitoring report is attached.
Coverage of Issues of Persons with Disability by Media (available in Georgian)