The Communication of People with Physical Disability's Identity via News Websites in Thailand

Prang Tharawanich¹

¹ptharawanich@hotmail.com

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed 1) to study the presentation of the identity of people with physical disability through the news headlines and news picture in a news website of an organization that is a member of the Federation of Thai Broadcasting and Television Professions, 2) to study the presentation of the identity of people with physical disability through the news headlines and news picture in a news website of the organization founded by people with physical disability, and 3) to study the relationship between the identity of people with physical disability on both websites. The results reveal the identity of people with physical disability from the news website of an organization that is a member of the Federation of Thai Broadcasting and Television Professions are persons with physical differences, they are not the same group to general people, they are miserable and pitiful, but they have the ability. The identity of people with physical disability from the news website of the organization founded by people with physical disability are persons with physical differences, they are not the same group to general people, they are not miserable and pitiful, and they have ability. The relationship between the identities in the two websites agreed on people with disability identity are persons with physical differences, they are not the same group to general people, and they have the ability. The disagreed identity is persons with disability are miserable and pitiful. This reflects that Thai society is during the transition period of changing the perspective towards disabilities but had not yet loosened negative attitudes toward people with disability. However, it has been changing bit by bit due to online landscape that allowed them to negotiate and refuse discourse in the news and are able to dignify representations of their own as members of society.

Keywords: Communication, Physical disability, News website