| Media Representation: Our Lives
ILMI’s Policy officer Dr James Casey and assistant Policy Officer Claire Kenny will be contributing to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport & Media discussion Future business model plans and long-term vision for the media sector (access and inclusion) on the 1st Feb 2023, 13:30, CR1, LH 2000
Representatives from National Youth Council of Ireland
Representatives from Age Action
Representatives from Irish Traveller Movement
Representatives from Independent Living Movement Ireland
How it all started
2020
The media plays a crucial role in shaping discussions in relation to disability. On Tuesday 1st December 2020, ILMI hosted an online discussion with disabled activists to collectively look at how disability is discussed, narratives that are used and the impact of stories and language used that impacts our lives as disabled people. ILMI had a panel with contributions from Suzy Byrne (Media expert), Steve Daunt (journalist) and Mik Scarlet (broadcaster) and Ellis Palmer (journalist) was master of ceremonies. The virtual auditorium was packed and the breakout rooms were electric.
2021
Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI) submission to the Future of Media Commission.
This submission is based on the facilitated discussions disabled activists held and their thoughts on how disabled people are currently represented, how disabled people would like to be represented and changes that are needed in the development and production of media in Ireland.
The first phase of the Future of Media Commission public consultation, which ran from December 12th 2020 – January 8th 2021, resulted in over 800 written submissions from stakeholder groups and the general public. The Commission has published (below) submissions received from organisations, stakeholder groups and elected representatives.
2022
ILMI Webinar “Media + Me: Representation of Disabled People in the Media” Wednesday, 2nd February 2022. This was key as ILMI brought the Media industry together as the audience. We all know how crucial media (broadcast, print and online) is for framing how we think and shaping our understanding. The webinar presented a unique opportunity to hear directly from disabled activists for the change that is needed in Irish media to reflect the diversity in society and make media inclusive of disabled people.
It featured a panel discussion with James LeBrecht (Oscar nominated film maker, director of Crip Camp and disabled activist), Selina Bonnie (ILMI Vice Chair), and Mik Scarlet (UK broadcaster and disabled activist).
Claire Kenny ILMI policy assistant gave her own insights into how the absence of disabled people in the media impacted on her growing up and Páraic Kerrigan (Assistant Professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin) presented some of his research on diversity in Irish media. The entire event was hosted by Dr James Casey ILMI’s policy officer.
It closed with a brief presentation of the core findings of the ILMI position paper “Our Lives, Our Voice” based on discussions held with disabled activists in Ireland and how they want disabled people involved in the creation of media.
Resources
Our Lives,. Our Voices: Reclaiming the Narrative (ilmi.ie) ILMI Position Paper February 2022. The representation of disabled people’s lives in the Media
“Media + Me: Representation of Disabled People in the Media” video link
ILMI’s Strategies for Change (SFC) session: Ellis Palmer, ILMI member and BBC journalist, spoke about his lived experiences of being a disabled person working in the area of journalism and the media.
Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI) submission to the Future of Media Commission.
This submission is based on the facilitated discussions disabled activists held and their thoughts on how disabled people are currently represented, how disabled people would like to be represented and changes that are needed in the development and production of media in Ireland.
Report of the Future of Media Commission. The Commission’s report, which was published on 12 July 2022, contains a total of 50 recommendations, which in effect constitute a strategic agenda for transforming Ireland’s media sector.
Date for Your Diary: ILMI International Women’s Celebration Event 2023
IMAGE: poster for the event with text detailed below and a photo of a purple disco ball
The ILMI International Women’s Event 2023 is taking place on the 7th March at 7pm via Zoom. Come celebrate with us! More details to follow registration is open on info@ilmi.ie All welcome.
ILMI VOICE CORK
On Thursday evening, the Cork Voice online platform had their penultimate session with UPLIFT and their Campaigning 101 course. The session explored Leadership skills and the values that motivates us. We recognised that all groups striving to bring about change in their community require people with different skillsets but the underlying values that guide the group towards their goals should be shared by everyone. If you live in Cork and would like to get involved with VOICE, email Nicola at nicolameacle@ilmi.ie or ring/text 087 7189237.
ILMI at the NDA
On Tuesday, 24 January ILMI’s Paula Soraghan attended the National Disability Authority’s discussion on collaborative research. ILMI’s Policy Officer, Dr James Casey also submitted some robust written input.
Key points discussed were the barriers that many disabled face when engaging in collaborative research, the medical model, gatekeeping and charity and where the funding for disability is given and how it is used. Disabled people rarely have their voices heard and are often spoken for by non-disabled people who are pushing a ‘pity, impairment label led narrative’.
To eradicate this issue, DPOs need to be appropriately funded and resourced so that disabled people can work collectively to influence research that affects their lives, led by the social model and an autonomous approach.
The benefits of this approach will mean that disabled people are given more meaningful opportunities and employment, DPOs will be resourced which will lead to authentic and unbiased research. It also reduced tokenism and means that the UNCRPD will be at the forefront of all discussions and research.
Disability culture was also a topic that was discussed and why that needs to be taken into account and respected, as it is linked with the social model of disability. Qualitative research with a social model lens is preferable and impactful because it leads to policy which empowers disabled people’s lives and focusses on their rights. Past and current research is primarily quantitative which is problematic, as it views disability as a statistic through the medical model and is used by charities to request more funding.
Skein Press
Have you a passion for writing? Have you been awaiting the right opportunity to share your work? Well this could be it!
Skein Press are delighted to announce that they are accepting submissions from 1st February to 28th February, 2023! They would love to read your fiction, non-fiction or poetry*.
See here for further information on submissions and their publishing programme and ethos:
*Please note that they are not accepting books for children or Young Adults in this window. |
