Code regulates portrayal of disability on TV

The Broadcasting Authority yesterday launched the first code of practice on disability and its portrayal in the broadcasting media.

The National Commission Persons with Disability has long been calling for such a code and it worked hand-in-hand with the authority to ensure social equality.

In the near future, this code will be presented as a legal notice and will eventually become law.

The code was launched during a press conference at the authority's premises in Hamrun by chairman Joseph Said Pullicino and chief executive Kevin Aquilina together with commission chairman Joe Camilleri.

Mr Camilleri praised the authority for launching the code in time for the Christmas season when several organisations collected money for charities and often, despite good intentions, portrayed persons with disabilities in an inappropriate way.

Prof. Dominic Fenech, who chairs the authority's sub-committee on ethics and quality, said they had quite a challenge to strike the balance between ensuring a user-friendly environment and not becoming overly politically-correct.

The code points out that a major contributory factor to disability was prejudice, stereotyping or "institutional discrimination" - an area where the media could either perpetuate the situation or educate the public.

The code also says that the patronising attitude towards disabled people reinforced stereotypes, even when presented positively.

It also stipulates that the undignified portrayal of disabled people during broadcasts of fund raising events and charity campaigns should not be allowed.

Portrayal of disabled people in a sensational manner, the ridiculing of the disabled in productions and exploiting the disability in humour, should be avoided.

The code also places certain responsibilities on the broadcasters.

It says broadcasters should aim to recruit disabled persons to work among their staff and, in particular, the portrayal of disabled persons in drama should, where possible, be carried out by disabled actors, the code said.

Mr Camilleri said the code was not in any way geared to censor broadcasters but to ensure that persons with disabilities were portrayed in a dignified way.

"Sometimes good intentions are marred when organisations are rushing to break record amounts," he said.