Hi,
Wouldn't it make sense for us--some or all--officially and individually to
contact PBS and let them know that films like this should not be aired
without some input from disability activists, scholars, or organizations.
I just heard a piece on NPR about how studios now feel (or are being made
to feel) the necessity to check in with Arab-American organizations or gay
organizations when shooting films dealing with those groups. Why shouldn't
we begin raising consciousness of the media about these subjects. For
example, ER is going with a story in which Benton's son will be found to be
deaf. From what I understand, the writer of the show is a physician with
no specific knowledge of deafness. I assume they will do some research,
but I have no way of knowing if the story will pan out properly. I suppose
we need to watch the PBS documentary first, but we shouldn't have to do
that after the fact.
Perhaps we can think about how to formulate a watchdog organization for
disability issues in the media.
Best,
Lennard Davis
At 10:30 AM 9/28/1998 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi,
>I saw the film; no disability studies scholars were involved.
>Phyllis Rubenfeld
>
>On Sun, 27 Sep 1998, Beth Haller wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know anything about the PBS documentary, "A Paralyzing Fear:
>> The Story of Polio in America", which will run Oct. 5, 1998? Were any
>> disability history scholars involved?
>>
>> for more info: http://www.pbs.org/storyofpolio
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Beth Haller
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________________
>>
>> Beth A. Haller, Ph.D. PHONE: (410) 830-2442
>> Assistant Professor of Journalism E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]
>> Dept. of Mass Comm/Comm Studies FAX: (410) 830-3656
>> 8000 York Road, Towson University WEB PAGE:
>> Towson, MD 21252-7097 http://www.towson.edu/~bhalle
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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