Analysis of Media Coverage on Physical Disability Issues: The Case of EBC
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Date
2024-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the extent and nature of disability issue coverage in EBC TV'S prime time news. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative content analysis and qualitative in-depth interviews. The research analyzed six months of prime time content (October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024), utilizing purposive sampling . Out of 1,181 total news stories broadcast on ETV 57’s prime-time news between October 2023 and March 2024, only 20 stories (2%) addressed PWD issues, while a vast majority 1,161 stories (98 focused on topics unrelated to disabilities. A comprehensive content analysis was employed to quantify the proportion of disability-related content within the total news coverage, revealing that disability issues comprised only a small fraction of the prime time news. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that human-interest frames and morality frames predominantly shaped the coverage, often portraying disability through a lens of pity rather than empowerment or agency. Additionally, the study found that mental illness and physical impairments were the most frequently covered types of disabilities, while other forms, such as developmental and sensory disabilities, received minimal attention. While in-depth interviews with journalists and editors highlighted challenges such as inadequate training and awareness regarding disability topics, further underscored the limited focus on disability issues, revealing a lack of awareness and understanding of the complexities surrounding disabilities. This study suggest that EBC should train media reporters and editors on how to frame the diverse groups within society in their report so that they would promote the cultureof inclusion in their report.