Journalistic practices often prioritize identity markers such as class, disability, or background over an individual’s achievements, inadvertently framing success as improbable and reinforcing societal biases, according to an analysis of media reporting trends.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that headlines frequently lead with labels that highlight struggle or difference, positioning individuals as exceptions rather than as equals whose accomplishments stand on their own merit. This approach, critics argue, undermines the significance of hard work and talent by making the individual’s context the primary narrative driver, rather than the achievement itself.
Highlighting Identity Over Merit
The article points to several examples where individuals’ achievements are overshadowed by their background. When a person from a marginalized community or with a disability achieves success, media outlets tend to emphasize the aspect of their identity that is perceived to make their success less likely. For instance, headlines might focus on a judge being the “tailor’s daughter” or a high-scoring student being “visually impaired” before mentioning their rank or academic performance.
This framing, the analysis suggests, implies that such success is surprising or extraordinary due to the individual’s circumstances. It prompts readers to assume pre-existing challenges like financial hardship or societal barriers, without necessarily verifying if these conditions were indeed obstacles for the individual in question.
The ‘Despite’ Narrative
A common linguistic tool identified in these headlines is the use of the word “despite.” This term suggests a conflict between an identity trait and an achievement, implying that the trait itself is a barrier that had to be overcome. For example, a headline stating a visually impaired student scored 95 percent “despite” their disability frames the score as remarkable not inherently, but in relation to their impairment.
This narrative is problematic as it can inadvertently suggest that blindness and academic excellence are not expected to coexist. While acknowledging challenges faced by individuals with disabilities is important, the article contends that the focus should be on the systemic barriers and the individual’s specific strategies, rather than presenting the disability itself as the primary obstacle to success.
The piece references the views of Stella Young, an Australian comedian and disability advocate, who argued that society, rather than the disability itself, often creates the most significant barriers for disabled individuals. The author contends that when media foregrounds disability in headlines, it can inadvertently project the audience’s own fears about disability onto the individual’s lived experience, thereby diminishing their agency and achievements.
Contextualizing Success
The analysis further examines the reporting of Iqra Farooq, who secured the second rank in the JKAS 2023 examinations. Many media reports prominently featured her father’s profession as a tailor, potentially overshadowing her academic accomplishment. This contrasts with the reporting of Tasneem Kabir, who achieved a similar rank in the same examination; her father’s profession as a civil servant was not highlighted, suggesting a societal assumption that children of civil servants are expected to succeed.
This disparity, the article posits, reveals a pattern where an individual’s background is emphasized when it deviates from perceived norms of success, while it is deemed unremarkable when it aligns with them. The author argues that such contextual details, if relevant, should appear later in the narrative, allowing the individual’s achievement to stand primary.
The article critiques headlines that use templates such as “Lineman’s Daughter Cracks UPSC” or “Shepherd Community Boy Cracks Civil Service Exams,” suggesting these frameworks reduce individuals to their context before acknowledging their achievements. This, it is argued, can reinforce existing social hierarchies by implying that certain backgrounds make success improbable.
Toward More Nuanced Reporting
While acknowledging that journalists may not be acting out of malice but rather adhering to established storytelling templates that are perceived to attract readership, the analysis calls for a re-evaluation of journalistic practices. The piece suggests that leading with achievements and allowing context to follow in the body of the report offers a more respectful and accurate portrayal of individuals.
For instance, reporting on Zainab Bilal, who scored 95 percent in her CBSE exams while visually impaired, could lead with her score and independent exam-taking, with her visual impairment providing context, rather than making it the primary focus. Similarly, Iqra Farooq’s JKAS rank should be the lead, with her background detailed subsequently.
The underlying principle advocated is that individuals should not be reduced to a single characteristic or presumed obstacle. Their achievements, abilities, and ambitions should form the core of the narrative, with contextual information serving to enrich, rather than define, their story. The article concludes by urging a shift towards headlines that prioritize the person and their accomplishment, allowing context to follow organically.
The Chenab Times News Desk