EMPLOYMENT IN MASS MEDIA: AN INCLUSIVE PERSPECTIVE

December 10, 2013 at 12.00-1.30 pm Department of Community Education and Disability Studies,  Panjab University, Chandigarh

WHAT IS THE NEED FOR THIS TALK?

It is not impairment, which prevents people from achieving a reasonable lifestyle, but restrictive environments and disabling barriers. 'Disability', therefore, represents a complex system of social constraints imposed on people with impairments by a highly discriminatory society; to be a disabled person means to be discriminated against.

THE BIAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, SO HAVE STEREOTYPES

'We are tired of being

statistics, cases, wonderfully

courageous examples to

the world, pitiable objects to

stimulate funding'. Paul

Hunt, 'Stigma', a book of 11

essays documenting the

experience of disability in

the 1960s.

People with disabilities have identified ten commonly recurring disabling stereotypes in the mass media. These include:

As pitiable and pathetic as an object of curiosity or violenceas sinister or evil as the super crippleas atmosphere as laughable as her/his own worst enemy as a burden as non-sexual as being unable to participate in daily life.

TWO PRONGED STRATEGY

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPOWERMENT

Equal opportunities Removal of bias Change in stereotype Create positive environment Upgrade infrastructure Form suitable policy Provide adequate

infrastructure

“I live in a cocoon of social-making peeping out at the world from behind a curtain.” Asha Hans.

No longer need to live in a cocoon!

Strengthen enough to realize self potential, demand better facilities, respect and opportunities

Increased enthusiasm to be able to treat self as equal and given equal respect by society

SPECTRUM OF ISSUES Decision makers

integrating perspectives into national policies raising awareness among policy makers about the importance of

national plans for affirmative action Promoting responsive governance

Technocrats effective use by persons with disabilities of ICTs and the need

for relevant content promoting economic participation in the information economy

Mass Media promoting democratic media, and provide employment

opportunities within the media conglomerates so that the issues related with persons with disabilities may be addressed in a sensitive manner .

CREATING SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENT

Strategies to address specific cultural context Barriers to access to be removed Creating opportunities for participation Dissemination of information Check stereotypes and demeaning coverage Rise above narrow commercial and consumerist purposes Ensure participation equally in both the technical and

decision-making areas of communications and the mass media

MASS IS INCLUSIVE• When the videotape is fed

into a city cable system, the transition from minority to mass audience has been reached.

• Depiction bias can be removed with increased participation

• Technology has removed all barriers

• Never before has society been so democratized

• Information is power and it is within reach

• Media industry provides the most inclusive atmosphere

MEDIA HISTORY: A STORY OF CHANGE AND GROWTH

PRINT/PUBLISHING Newspaper printing relies

heavily on computers Once the news reaches the

newsroom, all work has to be done sitting down using only the power of the mind. A lot of news reaches through computers, telephone etc.

Computers have provided great inclusive job opportunities in editorial, design, art work, graphics, research, statistical analysis, accounts, management and more.

RADIO Areas include a wide range On air: All one needs is a

good radio voice. Training is provided at any community radio station. AIR runs Vani workshops for training in anchoring.

Off air: All work is done on an editing console. With some training any one can gain practice in operating the console.

Work areas:1. Research2. Anchoring3. Interviewing4. Organizing5. Editing6. Sound technician7. Programme producer

TELEVISIONSoft ware: Programme production Research Script Makeup Costume Styling Sets/Interiors Music Lyrics/Dialogues Instruments

Hard ware: Recording Sound technician Sound Editing Video editing Graphics/animation Maintenance Book keeping

SOCIAL MEDIA

Marketing Public

Relations Advertising Search Engine

Optimization Research Image

management More…

FILMS Pre production Production Post

production

SELF EMPLOYED

Entrepreneur Writing Designing Art Graphics Sales Blogging Teaching

Contact:Dr Archana R Singharchana@pu.ac.in

EDUCATED. ENABLED. EMPOWERED. EMPLOYED...