4rth International Conference "People with Disabilities and Mass Media" 22-23 June 2009
It is widely known that the media play a powerful role in the lives of people. The media are mirrors of society and reflect our norms, beliefs and values, acting as a prism through which we interpret the world around us.
Everyone acknowledges that the media influence and shape public opinion. Τhe media could be a powerful tool for the revocation of the clichés and prejudices towards people with disabilities. Furthermore, mass media have the power to influence public opinion positively towards the acceptance of social diversity.
An extremely crucial point is how the media portray disability. Media professionals ofter feel awkward when covering a story about a person with disabilities. The situation is characterized by fear of the unknown, lack of knowledge, incorrect or distorted information.
With proper training and an unbiased approach to the issues of disability by the journalists, it is possbile to abolish prejudices, misunderstandings and clichés which surround people with disabilities.
The accessibility of people with disabilities to media and their ability to use new tools of communication are crucial factors for lifting the obstacles to information. Accessibility to the media also depends on the business initiatives of media professionals and therefore, it is necessary to create or promote an attitude that will allow people with disabilities to fulfil their potential, so that they canl have access to information and communication and they be part of the production of information as workers at the media.
The 4th Conference focuses on the factors which shape the new developing environment of digital media such as social web, blogs, wikis, facebook, etc. The accessibility and the participation of people with disabilities to the social networks is a constant and forceful demand on their part. The Conference will also attempt to investigate the potentiality of presenting disability through advertising spots, as well as the changes this practice might bring in our perception of disability.
The 4th International Conference will conclude with the active participation of children with disabilities, because children themselves can communicate their message better than anyone through their artistic expression.
The 4th International Conference "People with disabilities and mass media - From traditional mass media to network communities" will take place in Athens at the premises of the Secretariat General of Information - Secretariat General of Communication, on June 22-23 and aims to focus on the following sub-themes:
1. Presentation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities - Legal Framework concerning people with disabilities and the Media
2. People with disabilities and Corporate Social Responsibility
3. Disability: Is there a space in advertisement?
4. People with disabilities from traditional mass media to network communities
5. Disability: the children innovate and create their means of communication
Usefull Info:
*You can read more on the previous International Conference People with Disabilities and Mass Media, held on June 23-24 2008, here.