The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a critical gap in news accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The surge in misinformation, dubbed an “infodemic,” compounded these challenges. Despite efforts to combat the pandemic and its associated information disorder, the needs of people with disabilities (PWDs), particularly those with hearing and visual impairments, were often overlooked.

One initiative to combat the spread of misinformation was the European Union (EU) funded ConnexUs project, which enabled News Verifier Africa (NV-A) to implement the Vaccine Safe project. While this project aimed to address COVID-19 information disorder, the world also began to acknowledge the dangers of exclusion that PWDs faced during the pandemic. In response, the United Nations (UN) rolled out strategies and policy briefs. However, these responses largely overlooked the need to specifically include PWDs, especially those with hearing and visual impairments, in the fight against the “infodemic.”

The Inclusive Futures report on the disability-inclusiveness of COVID-19 responses recognized this oversight. The report highlighted the ongoing need for accessible information, reinforcing our experience with the Vaccine Safe project.

When NV-A implemented the Vaccine Safe project, we received audience feedback, including requests for fact-checks and news content to be made more accessible for individuals with hearing disabilities and visual impairments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 430 million people worldwide with disabling hearing loss, around 40 to 45 million people who are blind, and 135 million people with low vision.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, accessing news content presents significant challenges for individuals who are deaf or blind. While advancements in technology have improved accessibility, substantial hurdles remain. Unfortunately, the news industry has often focused more on general inclusivity than on ensuring that the deaf and blind community can access news.

For instance, in Nigeria, where there are over 400 TV stations, only the National Television Authority (NTA) provides a sign language interpreter for its news bulletins. Traditional and digital news websites rarely prioritize ensuring that sign language users and individuals with visual impairments can access their content.

The challenges range from a lack of closed captioning on video broadcasts to the absence of audio descriptions and transcripts. Even where efforts are made, the quality of closed captioning can vary widely, and not all news content is accessible. Additionally, there is a need for broader adoption of audio descriptions and other accessible formats.

According to UNESCO, information accessibility encompasses various issues related to availability, accessibility, and affordability of information, including multilingualism, metadata, interoperability, open-source software, and open content. It also includes addressing the special needs of people with disabilities. UNESCO recommends the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for more equitable access to information, including for PWDs.

Equitable access to news is not merely a social justice issue but a democratic imperative. When information is restricted, citizens are unable to make informed decisions, participate fully in civic life, or hold their leaders accountable. Moreover, communities with limited access to accurate information are easy targets for misinformation and disinformation. Inclusion should be a top priority for the media industry. This often involves how the voices of persons with disabilities are represented and whether their perspectives are featured in the stories that the journalism industry prioritises. However, inclusion should also encompass the distribution process, ensuring that after we tell these stories, everyone can access them easily, regardless of their status or situation. This is where ‘news accessibility’ comes in.

With many newsrooms going digital and improving web accessibility, the possibilities are endless if they focus on how they distribute content. To ensure that news content reaches a diverse audience, including individuals with disabilities, news organisations can implement the following strategies across all categories of disability:

For People with Visual Impairments:

• Audio Descriptions: Provide detailed verbal descriptions of visual elements in news broadcasts and videos.
• Text Alternatives: Offer text equivalents for images, videos, and infographics.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: Design websites and apps to be compatible with screen reader software.
• Large Font Options: Allow users to adjust font size for better readability.
• High Contrast Options: Provide options for adjusting color contrast for improved visibility.

For People with Hearing Impairments:

• Closed Captioning: Provide accurate and timely closed captions for all video content.
• Transcripts: Offer written transcripts of audio and video content.
• Sign Language Interpretation: Include sign language interpreters in news broadcasts and live events.

For People with Cognitive Impairments:

• Simple Language: Use clear and concise language, avoiding complex sentence structures.
• Structured Content: Organize information in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.
• Multimedia: Combine text, images, and audio to enhance understanding.

For People with Motor Impairments:

• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure websites and apps can be fully navigated using a keyboard.
• Voice Commands: Offer voice control options for interacting with content.

General Accessibility:

• Mobile Optimization: Design news content to be accessible on mobile devices.
• Accessibility Standards: Adhere to accessibility guidelines like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
• User Testing: Regularly test content with people with disabilities to identify and address barriers.
• Continuous Improvement: Monitor and update accessibility features to keep pace with technology and user needs.

Ultimately, the media has a moral responsibility to foster civic awareness and engagement. To fulfil this responsibility, news organisations must be intentional in ensuring that the platforms they use to deliver news are accessible to people of all abilities and disabilities.