INCLUSIVE JOURNALISM: HOW INDONESIAN MEDIA SHEDS LIGHT ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN COVID-19 REPORTING

Abstract

The media plays a signifcant role in constructing the public meanings of disasters/crises and infuencing disaster management policy. During the process, media coverage is required to be inclusive with the essence of covering our society in all of its guises, having a variety of sources and generating a story that refects many points of view, including the marginalized groups. Under the concept of inclusive journalism, this article analyzed how Indonesian media sheds light on People with Disabilities (PwD) in Covid-19 Reporting. This study is designed with a descriptive qualitative approach. To answer the purpose of this study, articles published in Kompas online and Detik.com which covered the issue of PwD related to Covid-19 pandemic were collected and were analyzed using the framing approach. The result of this study is signifcant because how the media portrays disability afects how disabled people view themselves and their wellbeing, how others treat them, and how social, economic, and health policies are created in relation to disability during this pandemic situation. Study reveals that even during pandemic when PwD suffer increased health risks and access challenges, they are still underrepresented in media or government discourse. In addition, the news coverage still strengthened the negative and/or dehumanizing stereotypes towards PwD. PwD is still framed as “victims”, “others”, and “inspirational” in the pandemic reporting.