14 September to 21 September

Storytelling, ethics and disability

The media are powerful carriers of societal values. More than that, they help to shape them; for example, they arguably influenced popular support in favour of the recent decision to clarify the legal position about 'assisted suicide'. They can turn an unknown individual into a celebrity overnight; and just as quickly cut her down to size. We are interested in the influence the media, especially the print media, have over views of disability and disabled people, through the ways in which they represent them.

What kinds of stories should newspapers and magazines tell about disabled people and about disability? Is it ethically acceptable for them to focus mainly on 'human tragedy stories' or 'fluffy feel-good stories', at the expense of stories that portray disabled people as participants in ordinary life? The story of Lewis Chawner, a boy who has cerebral palsy, who needed surgery before he could learn to walk is a typical 'fluffy feel-good' story, while that of Daniel James, the rugby player whose parents accompanied him to Switzerland for help in ending his life, is a typical 'human tragedy' story.  What kinds of stories are helpful and which are damaging? Which are respectful? And which are ethically acceptable?

Lucy Reynolds, PhD student and Gavin Fairbairn, Running Stream Professor of Ethics and Language, School of Applied Global Ethics.