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ABSTRACT In this research study we compared how three Canadian and three Israeli newspapers wrote about people with disabilities over a 3-month period. The comparison included structural variables, such as the length of the articles, where they appeared, whether photographs were used, etc. We also examined content variables, such as who the main character was, the details used to describe this individual or group, and what governmental agencies, service providers and problems were mentioned. Finally, we looked at whether the article was progressive, traditional or mixed in its perspective. Our findings showed a number of significant differences between Canada and Israel. Equally noteworthy, however, were the considerable similarities, such as frequent problems with finances and services, and most of the articles being traditional in focus. The paper concludes with an analysis of the newspaper business and the implications of this for altering the image of disabled people in the media.
Literature Review
Social attitudes toward people with disabilities are among the key barriers obstructing their full participation in the societies in which they live, and their political equality as citizens with rights (Lepofsky & Bickenbach, 1985; Zola, 1985; Byrd & Elliot, 1988; Berzon and Maran, 1989; Yoshida et al., 1990; Tait, 1992; Barton, 1996; Thomson, 1997). Studies seeking to understand these attitudes show that they are influenced by the culture to which one belongs, one's religion, class, age, gender and education, the amount of direct contact one has with disabled people, the context within which the disability occurred, and the type and severity of the disability involved (Florian, 1978, 1987; Shurka & Katz, 1982; Florian & Katz, 1983; Mar'i et al., 1986; Johnson & Lambrinos, 1987; Albaz et al., 1992; Eichinger et al., 1992; Gilad & Lazar, 1993; Aminidav & Weller, 1995; Rimmerman & Yanai, 1997).
The modern-day media plays an important role not only in reflecting public attitudes and values regarding disability, but also in shaping them (Hafferty & Foster, 1994). `The media may not have the power to determine what people think, [but] they can and do determine what people think about' (Neuendorf, 1990, p. 115). Therefore, the amount and the nature of press coverage an issue receives will be related to the importance placed on that issue by individuals in the...