Between sound and image: how people with hearing or visual impairments access television news

Abstract

This article stems from a research project that examines the reception dynamics of individuals with hearing or visual impairments in relation to television newscasts, focusing on the strategies they employ and the impact on communicative citizenship. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study involved ten participants and drew on in-depth interviews and participant observation. The findings indicate that, despite television’s long-standing centrality in news dissemination, it largely overlooks the unique needs of those who cannot see or hear, resulting in symbolic exclusion and reliance on provisional solutions—such as family support or shifting to other media platforms. We conclude, therefore, that television newscasts require inclusive policies and practices, including the systematic adoption of audio description and sign-language windows, to fully realize every citizen’s right to information.