Media experts and journalists have urged the development and implementation of more sensitive policies in media structures, including news, opinions, programmes, and management, to promote positive representation of disability issues.
At a discussion organized by SoMaSHTe on October 29, 2024, with the support of UNESCO, speakers emphasized that although some media outlets have taken commendable steps in this area, overall, disability issues are not given adequate attention in media management. To improve the situation, they recommended increasing sensitivity, formulating and implementing policies, and building capacity to handle disability-related content with greater awareness.
The discussion was moderated by Mir Masruruzzaman, Executive Director of SoMaSHTe. Noore Jannat Proma, UNESCO Dhaka Office’s Communication and Information Sector Lead, stressed the importance of including disability more robustly in media frameworks. She said, “Disability is still often seen as a negative issue; although there are some visible efforts, the desired level of sensitivity is still lacking in both media and corporate sectors. Identifying existing gaps and taking action for progress is essential.”
Zahid Nawaz Khan, Head of Digital at The Business Standard, observed, “Media has historically been less attentive to respectful language when covering disability issues, though caution has increased compared to the past.”
Speakers shared their observations on media coverage of disability issues. They noted that in media business structures, political and routine topics often receive more attention than social issues. Disability coverage is still mainly event-driven, such as marking specific days, and has not yet become a regular subject. They stressed the need for a more positive reflection of disability in media policies and practices, pointing out that the lack of a robust information system makes reporting on these topics challenging.
Recommendations included creating infrastructure and necessary support for hiring people with disabilities in media, producing content on disability topics, fostering sensitivity among policymakers in the media industry, improving journalists’ skills, and adopting technical measures to ensure that people with disabilities can read, view, and listen to media content.
Speakers included Jamal Reza, Senior Programme Manager at Channel i; Rokon Rahman, Output Editor at Channel i Online; Partha Shankar Saha, Assistant News Editor at Prothom Alo; Kamrun Nahar, Joint News Editor at Views Bangladesh; Rita Bhowmik, Senior Reporter at Kalbela; Swapna Chakraborty, Staff Reporter at Janakantha; Atika Rahman, Senior Reporter at RTV; Tania Rahman, Senior Reporter at Ekattor TV; Nilima Jahan, Staff Reporter at The Daily Star; Jobayer Milon, Assistant Producer at NTV; Sajib Ahmed, Staff Reporter at Kaler Kantho; Afia Afrin, Senior Reporter at Amader Shomoy; and Masud Rana, Senior Reporter at Jago News.