[Journalists] Interviews

Tue Nov 3 23:17:42 UTC 2015

Does the name Dr. Chris Allen ring a bell?  Because I swear he mentioned SOMETHING about you.  I'm not sure.  I'll talk to him and see.  But thanks for your help.  I got some good information.
Rachael

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Elizabeth Campbell via Journalists <journalists at nfbnet.org>
Date: 11/03/2015  11:59 AM  (GMT-06:00)
To: Blind Professional Journalists List <journalists at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Elizabeth Campbell <liz at star-telegram.com>
Subject: Re: [Journalists] Interviews

Hi Rachael,
Welcome to our list.
Where are you studying in Nebraska? I am from Omaha originally, but I'm
now living in Fort Worth, Texas where I am a reporter at the
Star-Telegram.
I definitely understand your challenges when it comes to the lack of
transportation. I find that it is easier and more efficient to work with
drivers. I cover an area where there is no public transit, thus I have no
choice but to utilize drivers and Uber or Lyft on occasion.
As for interviews, I honestly haven't encountered anyone who doubted my
abilities as a journalist because of my blindness. They may have wondered
privately about whether I could do the job, but no one ever expressed
anything to me during interviews.
As for which term to use when describing blindness, I simply use blind or
visually impaired.
I've also seen some stories where reporters use euphemistic terms such as
"sight-impaired, sightless or non-sighted. I would avoid those if I were
you.

Also, I wanted to encourage you and everyone else on our list to join our
Facebook group also called Blind Professional Journalists.
We still have our email list, but wanted to have a social media presence
as well.

Elizabeth Campbell
general assignments reporter
(O 817-390-7696
(c) 817-247-6862
liz at star-telegram.com
Twitter @fwstliz

-----Original Message-----
From: Journalists [mailto:journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pat
Chadwick (PChadwick--- via Journalists
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 10:19 AM
To: Blind Professional Journalists List
Cc: Pat Chadwick (PChadwick at INTERNEWS.ORG)
Subject: Re: [Journalists] Interviews

Hi Rachel,

This is from the National Center on Disability and Journalism's (NCDJ)
Style Guide: http://ncdj.org/style-guide/

Blind/limited vision/low vision/partially sighted/visually impaired

Background: According to the American Foundation for the Blind, the term
legally blind denotes a person with 20/200 visual acuity or less.
Therefore, blind or legally blind is acceptable for people with almost
complete vision loss. Many people with vision loss are not considered
blind. The foundation recommends that unless the person refers to himself
or herself as legally blind, the terms low vision, limited vision or
visually impaired should be used.

NCDJ Recommendation: Use the term blind only when the person has complete
loss of sight and the term legally blind when the person has almost
complete loss of sight. Other terms also may be acceptable. It is best to
ask the person which term he or she prefers and take that into
consideration. Commonly used terms include:

Limited vision: Acceptable when a person is not legally or completely
blind

Low vision: Acceptable when a person is not legally or completely blind

Partially sighted: Used most often in British publications but acceptable
if a person is not legally or completely blind

Visually impaired: This is general term describes a wide range of visual
functions, from low vision to total blindness. It is generally considered
acceptable, although, like the term hearing impaired, some may object to
it because it describes the condition in terms of a deficiency.

AP style: The AP stylebook describes blind as "a person with complete loss
of sight" and suggests using the terms "visually impaired" or "person with
low vision" for those who have some sight.

Best, Patricia

On 11/3/15, Rachael Vacanti via Journalists <journalists at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> Hello fellow journalists!
>
> I'm Rachael, a student studying journalism in Nebraska.  I'm in my
> final year of undergrad at home before I hopefully move to Ohio for
> graduate school.
>
> One of the things I find most challenging as a journalist, is getting
> around to interviews and other different locations needed for a story.
> The public transportation here is really bad and it takes forever to
> get anywhere.  How do I get around that?  Also, are people comfortable
with a blind journalist?
>  So far I've had good luck, but I'm worried that it's running out and
> someone will eventually doubt my skills, despite my credibility.
>
> I have one final question:  How do you refer to blind people in the
media?
> The Associated Press Stylebook states that the term blind is used to
> describe someone with complete loss of sight.  All other times, the
> terms visually impaired or low vision is encouraged.  That's just what
> the Stylebook says.  The Stylebook wasn't written by blind people.
> How do we change perceptions about blind individuals?  I feel like a
> lot of people get offended when I use the correct AP Style when
> describing blind people.  I'm a bit confused about that and it's
> something that's always bugged me.  Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Rachael Vacanti
>
> Rachael E. Vacanti
> (402)-960-9085 (mobile)
> revacanti at Hotmail.com
> Newsletter Co-Editor, River City Mixed Chorus Contributor, The Gateway
> MavPRSSAA, Member
>
>
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