Solomon2day

The language used in the media in relation to people with disabilities, may be an indication of whether social change has or would occur. For example, media stories about graduates or students wit disabilities often focus on the sacrifices of family and caregivers, instead of the students and the challenges there faced getting an education. It is disheartening, therefore, that persons with disabilities are seldom covered in the media and when they are presented, they are typically damaging stereotyped and not properly epitomized. It is not uncommon to see persons with disabilities treated as objects of pity, charity or medical treatment that have overcome a tragic and disabling condition or conversely, presented as champions who have accomplished great feats, to inspire the non-disabled. The Editors, producers and programmers are influenced by their own thoughts of disability and what they trust will attract listeners. Equity and Equality challenges indeed! The media, therefor re e...

In this dispensation of insecurity and violent crimes in Nigeria, the urgent need for undiluted news and commentaries for the people cannot be overemphasized. However, the focus of most of the outlets owned by non-professionals revolves around pecuniary,political and self-driven interests. This has resulted in the dissemination of outright falsehood,half-truths and sponsored propaganda. Sadly,a sizable number of professionals have made patronage their guiding lights,even as mediocrity and quackery have now taken over the media space. In Victorian Britain,The Morning Post came into being in 1772 while the Times in 1785,during the period the government launched a campaign of restriction on the Press which resulted in the emergence of six notorious Acts in 1819. William Cobbett published the Political Register and later on Two Penny Trash which infringed the provisions of the publications Act of 1819. Wooller published The Black Dwarf,a miner's newspaper in 1817. John Gast owned The...