This study reviewed, over 2 years, all newspaper articles related to persons with disabilities in two major city newspapers with circulations of more than 500,000 (the Houston Post and the Los Angeles Times). The newspapers were reviewed to uncover trends and themes in the articles which reflected subtleties of views toward persons with disabilities. Content analysis of the 227 articles included both manifest ,content and latent contert (the undertone or mood of the article). Results indicated that most articles revealed logical fallacies and did not portray persons with disabilities realistically but rather either as having superhuman characteristics or as deserving of pity. A few articles, however, portrayed persons with disabilities as competent members of society. People with disabilities and their advocates are urged to communicate their concerns to the media and to promote guidelines for th2 realistic portrayal of persons with disabilities in the media. A sample set of guidelines is attached. (Author/DB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Othce of Educationai Research ana improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) p/ft;s document has been reproduced as received from the person or organizahon originating .1 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docnr . mem do not neceSSarily represent official OERI position or pohcy Newspaper Images and Messages: People with Disabilities Susan M. Catlett Sylvia S. Martin Educational Psychology Department University of Houston Houston, Texas Robert Craig Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies Department University of Houston Houston, Texas Running Head: NEWSPAPER PORTRAYALS "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS BEST COPY AVAILABLE MATERIAl. HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
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