National, metropolitan and local newsprint coverage of developmental disability

Abstract

This study examines the coverage of developmental disability in local, metropolitan and national newspapers available in the Sydney area over an 8 week period. Newsprint was analysed in terms of content (topics considered, categorical focus, age of individuals or group of interest, possibility for improvement and means of improvement) and terminology used to refer to persons with disabilities. There were distinctive patterns in the topic coverage and use of terminology across the categories of newsprint examined. Nonpreferred terminology was most prevalent across all categories of newsprint.