A Kent expert on how the media covers Paralympic Games has been working in Brazil to produce a guide for journalists at the event this summer.
The guidelines are aimed at ensuring focus on the person rather than the disability and provide the opportunity to promote positive perceptions of disability and sports internationally.
Liaising with researchers in Brazil enabled Dr Sakis Pappous to develop a specific guide for Rio 2016, with a particular emphasis on photographic images of the Paralympic athletes. Using photos from previous Paralympic events, he illustrates how editorial judgement either in cropping images, or using wide angles, can unconsciously create negative perception of the athletes.
Dr Pappous, Director of Graduate Studies and Reader in Kent’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, uses knowledge gained from London 2012 to guide media coverage of Paralympic Games to change societal perceptions about disability.
He has carried out extensive research into the impact of Olympic and Paralympic Games, with specific work on their legacies and spent four months working on a research project with the Universidade do Parana in Curitiba, Brazil.
Dr Pappous’s Media Guide (to covering the Paralympics) is produced in partnership with the Brazilian Paralympics Committee and will be given to all registered journalists during the Games.