Abstract:
The main aim of this study was to examine the coverage of Disability issues in the Amhara Mass Media, Bekur newspaper. Agenda setting, framing and Social Responsibility theories were employed as theoretical frameworks of the study. By taking two years data, the study was conducted on a selected regional newspaper. Data used for the study was extracted from a total of 13 sample articles (10 from 2018 and 3 from 2019). The articles were selected by using availability sampling techniques. A content analysis method has also been employed in the study. Content analysis was made on sample articles to gather quantitatively with reference to the amount and content of disability issue coverage by the media studied. The study revealed that disability stories were not given priority in the weekly editions as the agenda of media outlet studied. Bekur was found to give more coverage disability stories from international media agencies than to its own journalist and national news agencies. All the articles were features. The newspaper coverage of issues of disability was characterized by a dominant use of the educative theme. Human interest frames and advocacy frames were the dominant frames used. In addition, multiple disabilities and physical impairment were the dominant type of disability stories that were given coverage. Finally, Amhara Mass Media agency printing department should reconsider their work on the coverage of people with disabilities. A great number of people with disability have been found in the region, but the coverage was insignificant.