Covering disability in Italian journalism. Language, practices and perspectives in mainstream and alternative media

Abstract

Journalism has a key role in the social construction of diversity in the public sphere. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between disability and journalism in Italy, a question largely unexplored hitherto. Following a review of the literature on disability-related journalism and ethics, we adopted the HOI (Hierarchy of Influences) model as a theoretical resource to enable a thorough investigation of the interplay between professionals and social, institutional and organisational systems. The research is based on 17 in-depth interviews with Italian journalists who have been covering disability for years, both in the mainstream and in alternative media. The analysis focused on their perceptions and experiences in daily newsmaking processes, reconstructing and relating the personal accounts they give as professionals to the working practices of newsrooms. We found that there are mutual influences at work, operating across individual, organisational and institutional levels and tending to force the issue of disability to the margins of journalistic activity. In a few relevant exceptions, there emerged a vindication of proactiveness on the part of professionals in the mainstream and alternative media. This suggests the emergence of a disability journalism culture, independent of editorial approach, to which the individuality of the journalist is central.