Ammon News - The second edition of a national competition designed to encourage media professionals to pursue disability-sensitive coverage and abandon stereotypes that portray people with disabilities as superheroes or vulnerable persons was launched Wednesday, according to a statement by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD).

As its name suggests, the "Address Me Objectively" campaign, which was launched at a ceremony sponsored by the President of the Council, His Highness Prince Mired bin Raad, aims to encourage journalists to submit writings and creative works that objectively address the issue of disability.

In its statement, the council stated that the competition is consistent with a well-established policy to promote a culture that fosters the inclusion of people with disabilities and allows them to exercise their rights on an equal footing with others.

The competition, according to the Secretary-General of the Council, Muhannad Al-Azza, aims to inspire media professionals to present media products and models based on a social human rights approach that emphasizes barriers rather than disabilities.

In addition to highlighting success stories that show advancements made to further promote the rights of the disabled, the competition focuses on the impact of environmental, behavioral, and stereotypes barriers on people with disabilities' access to their rights and freedoms.

"In media reporting, one should not focus on disability as if it were a suspense element and the essence of journalistic material," Al-Azza emphasized, adding that "forcing disability into coverage without any context is discrimination and a violation of a person's privacy."

Instead, Al-Azza emphasized that the rights and issues of people with disabilities should be addressed within the context of human rights and comprehensive development programs and plans, with media materials used to highlight gaps and deficiencies.

The competition includes audio-visual, print, and dramatic media. Those who wish to compete may submit their work produced between July 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022 via an electronic platform established by the Council for this purpose and accessible via the Council's website.

The winners will be announced in December, in conjunction with the International Day of Disability. An applicant must be a resident of the Kingdom and not a member of the HCD Board of Trustees, a full-time or part-time employee, a volunteer, or have a contractual relationship with the Council.