HOW the media portray people with learning disabilities will be the focus of a new research group set up by the University of Chester.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the Learning Disability Media Research Group (LDMRG) will be led by Professor Tom Mason, Head of Learning Disability and Mental Health at the University of Chester, and has been established to help inform future learning disability-related initiatives.
Prof Mason, of the Faculty of Health and Social Care, said: "Currently in the UK, we do not have a research group that directly focuses on media representations of people with learning disabilities.
"The power of the media in shaping responses to learning disability should not be under-estimated and this then impacts on practice and policy developments at local and national levels."
He added: "The LDMRG will be launched with the remit of collecting data from film, magazines, TV and any media source which represent those with a learning disability.
"We will undertake long-term research on these media representations, as it is our aim for the group to become nationally and internationally known for research and publications."
The group, which was officially launched on Tuesday, will organise an initial data collection which will involve staff from the Faculty monitoring media sources.
Prof Mason, of the Faculty of Health and Social Care, said: "Currently in the UK, we do not have a research group that directly focuses on media representations of people with learning disabilities.
"The power of the media in shaping responses to learning disability should not be under-estimated and this then impacts on practice and policy developments at local and national levels."
He added: "The LDMRG will be launched with the remit of collecting data from film, magazines, TV and any media source which represent those with a learning disability.
"We will undertake long-term research on these media representations, as it is our aim for the group to become nationally and internationally known for research and publications."
The group, which was officially launched on Tuesday, will organise an initial data collection which will involve staff from the Faculty monitoring media sources.
Evening Leader, 14th May 2009
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