No good news on bad news stories

As a recently published report highlights an increase in negative reporting on disabled people, behind it lies the truth that this, in itself, is bad for disabled people and our image

New research into the coverage of disability issues in the media has found a significant increase of negative reporting in the past five years, with articles having a negative impact on non-disabled people’s perceptions of disability.

The study, carried out by the Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research at the University of Glasgow, was commissioned by disability organisation Inclusion London and examined print articles across tabloid and broadsheet newspapers from 2004/5 and 2010/11.

Researchers found that there had been an increase in the number of disability related articles, from 713 to 1,015, although a general trend in tone had seen less stories focus on positive portrayals of disability. Articles covering benefit fraud rose from 2.8% to 6.1%.

The research also found a rise in the use of pejorative words such as “scrounger”, which were found in 18 per cent of articles compared to just 12 per cent in 2004/5.  

This comes at a time when suspicions have been voiced that stories featuring fraud originate with sources close to government and are designed to move the focus away from what might otherwise be seen as callous cuts to benefits for people who need them most.

As a result campaigners feel that painting such a negative picture has a direct impact in terms of creating general hostility towards disabled people.

Neil Coyle, director of policy at Disability Alliance said: “Far too often disabled people requiring assistance are portrayed as scrounging or somehow undeserving. Sadly, time is running out for improving Welfare Reform Bill provisions, and we and our members fear a re-run of former benefit cuts where it will be the end of disabled people’s lives which causes a rethink rather than a full examination of the evidence base and risks of the Government proposals now.”

Professor Nick Watson of Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research, which conducted the study alongside the University’s Glasgow Media Group, said: “This report provides a strong body of evidence to suggest there has been a significant change in the way that disability is being reported in much of the press in the UK today.

“Much of the coverage in the tabloid press is at best questionable and some of it is deeply offensive. The increased focus on benefit fraud, with outlandish claims that over 70 per cent of people on disability benefits are frauds, is an example of this type of reporting.

“The increased pejorative coverage of disability may have a long-term effect and further work will be needed to monitor this.”

Anne Kane, Policy Manager at Inclusion London, said that inaccurate media coverage was breeding a new social stigma of disability.

“The findings of this research will strike a deep chord with disabled people who have to live with the daily reality of offensive, hate-filled and false media coverage – coverage that is becoming more offensive in rhythm with the savage impact of government spending cuts on disabled people.

“The disabled people questioned in the study said they felt threatened by the changes in the way disability is being (mis)reported and by the planned cuts to benefits – with these two assaults combining and reinforcing each other. This points to the action that needs to be taken: a stop to cuts that threaten more isolation and poverty and a stop to media coverage that stigmatises and breeds fear.”