The communication of people with physical disability's identity via news websites in Thailand
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2020
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2563
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eng
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application/pdf
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329 leaves
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eISSN
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b212219
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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National Institute of Development Administration. Library and Information Center
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Prang Tharawanich (2020). The communication of people with physical disability's identity via news websites in Thailand. Retrieved from: https://repository.nida.ac.th/handle/662723737/6839.
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The communication of people with physical disability's identity via news websites in Thailand
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Abstract
News is commonly known to communicate facts. It is also used as a reference
to represent reality in society. In the past, news communicating about people with
physical disabilities was constructed to create negative values and meaning. The myth
of inability judged people with physical disabilities as worthless. When the media
landscape changes to online media, it opens the space for anyone to hold media
ownership. It also allows people with physical disabilities to possess a space to
communicate their identities with their own insider perspectives.
The study titled, “The Communication of People with Physical Disability’s
Identity via the News Websites in Thailand” is a qualitative research based on the
identity concept of cultural studies. The first objective is to study people with physical
disabilities’ identity through the news headlines and news pictures on a news website
of organizations that are members of the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand. The
second objective is to study the identity of people with physical disabilities in news
headlines and news images on a news website of the organization founded by people
with physical disabilities. The third objective is to study the relationship between the
identity of people with physical disabilities on both websites.
This study uses the critical discourse framework of Foucault and Fairclough to
analyze the news websites topic discourse using language strategies. The analysis of
the news pictures utilized the Pei Soo Ang disability discourse analysis framework to
assess the dimension of social perception of the identity of people with physical disabilities. The study explored characteristics that have changed from the past. In
addition, the research investigated the perceived value and meaning that society has
regarding people with a physical disability and identified knowledge and power
dominance. The websites selected for the study included the Thairath Online and
Thisable news websites. Thairath Online is a news website with membership in the
News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and Thisable news website founded by a
person with a physical disability.
The results found that people with physical disabilities in the Thairath Online
website are powerless and cannot determine their own identities. The medical, state,
economics, and religion are institutions with authority to use knowledge set to define
the people with physical disabilities identity and reproduced it in the media. Although
identification may appear positively in some cases, it still has a negative implication
wherein people with physical disabilities identities are “physically different from
general people,” “not the same group as general people,” “pitiful,” but have “ability”
in some cases.
The research also found that people with physical disabilities in Thisable news
website have the power to identify their own identity. However, their identity remains
dominated by various institutions in society. Therefore, they choose to adopt some
original identities, bargain with a positive perspective, and reject some identity. People
with physical disabilities agreed that their identity is “physically different from general
people,” “not the same group as general people,” “not pitiful,” and have “ability.”
In conclusion, the institution’s power determined the identity of people with
physical disabilities in Thai society. Simultaneously, while being oppressive, people
with physical disabilities choose to adopt some given identity, negotiate, and construct
other aspects of their own identity. As a result, the identity relationship, which appears
to be consistently on both websites is that people with physical disabilities are
“physically different,” “not the same group as general,” and have “ability.” The
different areas are pitiful, which appeared in the Thairath Online news website that
people with physical disabilities are “pitiful.” Still, Thisable news website rejects the
identity and determines that they are “not pitiful.”
The news presentation of people with physical disabilities in Thai media is often
released without full understanding their identity. This happens because the media used an outsider’s perspective standpoint. As a result, the media may become a significant obstacle in the pursuit of an “Inclusive Society” where everyone can live and conduct
social activities equally with dignity and without discrimination. The recommendations
from this research to agencies related to media policy must raise awareness and
encourage all forms of “media” to access counseling from people with physical
disabilities. They should seek information and communication about disabilities from
an insider’s standpoint to communicate using language and images in the news with
respect to human rights.
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Thesis (Ph.D. (Communication Arts and Innovation))--National Institute of Development Administration, 2020