An Interview with Mike Gourley, New Zealand Disability TV and radio presenter
By Robyn Hunt
New Zealand has had disability specialist radio and television programs for a long time. 'One in Five.' (formerly 'Future Indicative') has been running on public radio since the late 1970's Television program 'INSIDE Out' began in the mid 1990s. Both programs are funded by New Zealand on Air, which funds locally made TV programs and public radio networks. These particular programs are funded because they would not attract commercial money.
Both programs are broadcast on the publicly owned networks, 'One in Five' is broadcast on National Radio, owned by Radio NZ. Inside Out screens on Television One, owned by TVNZ
With the implementation of a new TVNZ public broadcasting charter which says that it will 'include in programming intended for a mass audience material that deals with minority interests;' I thought it was time to look at the current situation and future of disability broadcasting.
I talked with Mike Gourley, presenter of both programs, and producer of One in Five.
Age-old question: special or mainstream programs?
I asked Mike whether he thought the time had come to 'mainstream these programs from time slots and separate approaches that some people might consider create ghettos.
'It's the old dilemma' Do you ensure some decent exposure through specific programs while the rest of the media goes on in its usual way.' he says
Mike says that we should not get rid of what we have got. He feels that the separate approach as well as coverage in mainstream programming is essential. They are complimentary approaches, although he admits that it is a struggle to put the time into a specialist program and do mainstream media work as well.
Mike also says that there are problems with the system of yearly contracts for programs, and the part time nature of the work.
'There is money for programs but none for development. Training and personal development has to be done at your own expense. How are we to address these problems? We need a longer-term process for making these programmes rather than from year to year.'
New Zealand's specialized program relatively rare
He believes that there are some advantages in having a national program at a national level. He points out that programs like those in New Zealand are rare on the international scene.
'Some programmes have gone, for example the long running BBC programme 'Does he take sugar.' the BBC now has teams to report disability in the media as a whole.'
'There is a lack of print media available internationally. There is Ragged Edge but not much radio and TV internationally. 'All in the Mind' in Australia, (radio) focuses on mental Health issues. In NZ Health Matters on radio New Zealand picks up on conditions and medical aspects of disability.
Visit to USA: "As bad as here, but more of it"
Mike said of his visits to the US 'There is not much evidence of disability in the media. It is as bad as here but there is more of it. It is a vast arena. John Hockenberry is a mainstream TV journalist, one of the few who brings that perspective and reflects his own personal experience in his work.'
He suggested the idea of a disability issues roundsperson in mainstream media, like an indigenous or social issues roundsperson.
Mike is clear that minority broadcasting can provide generic interest, but that charity advertising on public TV sometimes runs counter to the way disabled people might like to see ourselves.
On disabled people working in the media he observed 'The ideal for the media is to look like a crip but not to need much support.'
Add disability equity to media training programs
'We should have stuff about disability equity in media training to raise issues, develop a cadre of journalists who recognize the issue from portrayal to investigative journalism.' He says this would improve the situation for both the reporting of disability issues and disabled media people.
Moving on to portrayal in the media he says 'There is a need to have a campaign and a media strategy developing grassroots people to be involved. The campaign needs to be broadcast in prime time.'
Models for campaigns
'What we need to do is to model on the Like Minds Like Mine project with a generic campaign.' (The Like Minds program focusing on people with experience of mental illness was covered earlier in Disabilityworld,)
'The Like Minds campaign has a good process and way of doing things. We can learn from them. We would have to be careful at the start of the campaign with marketing the issue to the media. We have to address the perceptions - we have to find out how they do perceive us first.' He says that it is important to get politicians on board for a campaign to be successful.
Mike says a campaign might have public funding but it should be independent with disabled people on national and local advisory groups.
In discussing grassroots media training. He cites a successful workshop he ran for a Youth Leadership project in January this year. He intends to run it for other disabled people. 'Now that their appetites have been whetted I can develop the course further.'
He says that New Zealand has already spent a large amount of money on public and media education on high profile mental health issues. He points to the Disability Strategy that has as one objective "Educating for a non-disabling Society.' He is hopeful that a similar media project for the wider disability community could receive funding.
|
