Beth Haller

Consuming Image: How Mass Media Impact the Identity of People with Disabilities

This research investigated what people with disabilities think about media representations of their community and how mass media impact their disability identity. The study found that respondents (N = 359) think American media portray people with disabilities both negatively and positively. Perceived positive media representation of people with disabilities led to affirmation of their disability identity even when the media messages were perceived as unrealistic, whereas negative media representation led to denial of their disability identity. Implications and limitations are discussed.

When Political Comedy Turns Personal: Humor Types, Audience Evaluations, and Attitudes

This study examines the impact of diverse comedy types on relevant political attitudes and what happens when the comedy content moves beyond the political to focus on personal attributes that are beyond a politicians control. Using a real political case study of David Paterson, New Yorks first blind and African American governor, the research measured the differential impact of exposure to self-directed and other-directed hostile humor on evaluations of comedy content, favorability ratings, perceptions of media portrayals of disability, and attitudes toward blindness. The results suggest that differential exposure to the comedy clips had an impact on attitudes toward blindness with those exposed to Patersons humor exhibiting more positive attitudes toward blindness than those who were exposed to Saturday Night Lives other-directed hostile humor.

The Politics of Representing Disability Exploring News Coverage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Twenty-five years on from the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), media representation of people with disability has become even more significant. More recently, the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia has placed people with disability, and the issues they face, at the forefront of political discourse. This study looks at the media coverage of the ADA and the NDIS as significant social and political landmarks in their respective countries. Using content analysis, this article explores how media representations of people with disability are substantial factors within social reform, societal inclusion and equal rights. Because of numerous barriers to participation in many countries, people with disability may only be known to the larger society through media representations. Disability rights-focused news coverage is important to a society’s awareness of disability issues, so this research contributes to a better understanding of how political issues regarding people with disabilities play out in two countries’ news media.

Journalism in Cyberspace: Current Copyright Implications

Internet resources in reporting are being embraced by numerous publications and newspapers, as well as journalism schools. The power of these sources is constantly touted, but the potential legal pitfalls are only recently being mentioned. This article deals with the copyright issues surrounding media workers quoting and using sources obtained from computer sources such as computer networks, bulletin boards and electronic mail. A few recent legal cases and the Clinton Administration are beginning to address this issue of copyright in cyberspace. But currently media workers are moving in uncharted waters as they begin to quote more and more from electronic sources. This area might become ripe for copyright lawsuits against media organizations. On the other side of the issue, media organizations that are now putting their publications on‐line should be aware of the possible copyright infringement that can take place against them.