In Tanzania, it is estimated that around 4.5 million people have various disabilities. Despite this number, journalists from local and national media often sideline disability issues, prioritising stories they believe will attract larger audiences to their media houses.
When they do cover disability issues, instead of exploring the diverse and positive experiences of people with disabilities, most of their news stories and programmes focus on hardships, such as the disappearances of people with albinism or poverty in various areas.
This notion among journalists has led to poor coverage of disability topics within media houses, such as achievements or policy discussions. Extensive coverage of disability issues is usually tied to political reporting, such as statements from ministers or the president.
This selective reporting not only marginalises the community of people with disabilities but also perpetuates stereotypes and neglects critical issues that need public attention and understanding.
Several journalists from Tanzania have highlighted why journalists don’t prioritise disability issues in their media houses unless an organisation of people with disabilities or various NGOs pays them.
Lack of knowledge
Clement Sanga, a reporter from Channel 10, said that almost all journalists lack knowledge about disability reporting. He mentioned that they don’t know the language to be used when addressing various disabilities, and they don’t want to upset them.
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“For example, I don’t know much about the interview skills needed when interviewing people with intellectual disabilities,” Sanga said. “You can see the difficulties that might occur during the interview.”
According to him, the lack of knowledge in working with people with various disabilities has caused their stories not to be prioritised.
He thinks that the majority of journalists, despite being able to interview and produce news content related to disability, turn away from it because they believe these stories will affect their personal income. Some work on a voluntary basis, while others are paid by news sources.
Penina Malundo, a journalist from Majira newspaper, has another view. She said that journalists and media houses need to invest in training and learn about disability issues because she believes that anyone can acquire a permanent disability at any time.
“If we enlighten ourselves, when we cover disability issues, we will focus on the individual and not their physical limitations,” she added. She said people with disabilities must be interviewed as news sources, experts, or sports commentators, not as beggars.
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She believes this approach will help change how the community views disability. She concludes: “I personally think that disability reporting must be included in the curricula of journalism schools to improve our understanding of disability issues.”
Inclusion
Another challenge is that there are few journalists with disability in media, especially in the decision-making positions. This also plays a significant role in disability reporting. This leads to their issues not being given priority.
For example, if some editors or journalists had disabilities, it would be much easier for them to address policies that support the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, ensure that positive stories about disability are published regularly, and invite people with disabilities as experts in their media houses.
Frank Leonard, chairperson of the Iringa Press Club, believes media houses don’t employ journalists with disabilities because they have negative perceptions about disabilities.
“Media owners and managers think that people with disabilities will not perform their tasks successfully and, apart from that, they also need special care and help,” he said. “So, as soon as they see a journalist with a disability, they don’t give him or her a chance to work with them.”
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Tukuswiga Mwaisumbe, a journalist focused on disability and child reporting on digital platforms, said it’s not easy for journalists to invest in disability reporting due to a lack of financial support from media houses.
“We don’t have a budget to support us in this kind of reporting,” she said. “Positive disability stories need money to find them, which we, as journalists, don’t have because many depend on brown envelopes.”
Tukuswiga added that disability stories often require time and resources to ensure accurate and respectful reporting. She said that because most journalists depend on their news sources for financial support, it’s not easy to ask for money from organisations for people with disabilities. That’s why they skip disability issues, too.
Journalists often focus on political or sports stories because they are seen as more urgent and important, potentially sidelining disability stories. This is because they believe that people want to know less about disability than political disputes or what politicians have said or promised to society.
Although it is extremely rare, there are also positive portrayals of disability in the Tanzanian media, especially in sports, entertainment, and policy, because these portrayals often highlight achievements, but most of the time, only if politicians are part of the stories.
Changes needed
As much as we want to blame the journalists, organisations of people with disabilities need to take some of the blame, too. When they get funds from donors, they don’t include a budget for media, which results in many of their positive activities not being covered.
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These organisations must address this gap by engaging effectively with journalists and including media activities in their project proposals and implementations, even when they don’t need immediate media coverage. This will help create a friendly environment between them.
The media also needs to pay their journalists well and provide financial support when covering positive stories about disability. Their programs and advertisements should also favour disability reporting and not just entertainment.
Organisations of people with disabilities, journalists, and media houses must work together to prepare better training for journalists and improve inclusive reporting.
Journalists need to stop portraying people with disabilities as beggars and individuals who need help all the time. This will change the perception that people with disabilities are a burden to society.
This will help the community read or watch stories related to people with disabilities and remove the notion that disability stories don’t sell. The media also needs to portray people with disabilities as active members of society to break down barriers and open up opportunities.
Temigunga Mahondo is a seasoned journalist and media trainer. He’s available at temig2003@gmail.com.
