The authors discovered that newspapers portrayed autism more positively when it was associated with a specific person rather than discussed in general terms. Additionally, using identity-first language (e.g., ‘autistic person’) was associated with more positive sentiments than using person-first language (e.g., ‘person with autism’).
While broadsheets portrayed autistic individuals more positively than tabloids did, no distinction was found between left-leaning and right-leaning papers.
The research, published in the journal Autism in Adulthood, suggests that newspapers should portray autistic people in a more positive light. This is crucial because newspapers significantly impact public perceptions of autistic individuals.
Media portrayals
Newspapers frequently depict autistic individuals in a negative and stereotypical manner, focusing on their difficulties and limitations rather than their unique abilities and requirements. Media sources also often use language that does not acknowledge the preferred way autistic individuals want to be described. This type of language adversely affects the mental well-being of autistic individuals and impairs their acceptance in society.
To gain insight into the portrayal of autistic individuals in British newspapers, researchers enlisted the perspectives of five autistic individuals to evaluate the sentiment towards autism and autistic people in 1,000 quotations from British newspapers spanning from 2011 to 2020.
The researchers asked autistic experts to assess how newspapers talked about autistic people without telling them the newspaper’s name or when the article was published. The experts judged the articles based on how warmly the newspapers talked about autistic people and how competent they made them seem. The researchers then looked at the overall judgments of warmth and competence. They looked at how the language and terminology varied, such as using general or impersonal language to talk about autism, and whether the newspapers used identity-first or person-first language. They also checked for differences between different types of newspapers and whether there were changes over time.
Study findings
The majority of quotes from British newspapers were found to have low levels of warmth and competence. Additionally, impersonal references to autism tended to receive lower ratings in warmth and competence compared to references linking autism to a person. Meanwhile, language that prioritizes identity first was rated higher in warmth and competence than language that prioritizes person first.
Although quotes from broadsheets and tabloids were rated similarly in warmth, the former were deemed slightly more competent. No significant differences were found in terms of warmth and competence between left-leaning and right-leaning papers.
The study also observed inconsistent changes over time. Newspaper portrayals shifted towards more positive representations between 2015 and 2017, but became more negative between 2018 and 2020.
“The media’s coverage of autism has grown in recent years, and the concept of neurodiversity is gaining recognition in educational and professional settings. Some recent studies suggest a small but noticeable shift towards more positive attitudes towards autism in public discussions.”
The new study challenges the idea that media coverage of autism has improved over time, based on the perceptions of autistic people. The study found that newspapers still often cover stories about the so-called ‘cure’ or ‘reversal’ of autism, which can be hurtful and offensive to the autism community.
“Our study emphasizes the vital role of language and terminology for autistic individuals. It is important for autistic individuals to have a say in shaping more inclusive media coverage. Newspapers must also respect the language preferences of the autistic community. Our study provides both positive and negative examples of autism coverage, which can help facilitate this shift.”