|
Annie Makoff
|
posted 4/26/07 6:49 PM
Hi,I’m a trainee journalist from the University of Central Lancashire. Currently, I am producing a prototype magazines which, if successful will be pitched to publishing companies for actual publication.As a disabled person myself, I have come up with the idea of producing a glossy magazine for the disabled community. The aim is to empower, inspire and motivate. It will attempt to counteract the (generally well-meaning) attempts of society to better understand the community. This will be achieved by a down-to-earth and chatty writing-style and will tackles issues (sometimes taboo) that some ‘able-bodied’ people are unable to understand. So as not to isolate a particular disability, the magazine, if published, will be available in large-print and Braille. At the moment I am embarking on the ever-crucial research stage, which involves asking the opinion of the target readers, which in this case, is many people on this forum!The magazine is for the disabled woman in her twenties to thirties. If anyone fits into this category (and even if they don’t!) I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to answer my poll and fill in the relevant sections.Please note: for the purposes of this research I have used the term ‘disability’ in it’s losest sense. In the way I am using it here, is to refer to anyone affected by a physical disability. Many thanks for your time!Annie MakoffTrainee JournalistUniversity of Central LancashirePreston 1. Which of the following issues would you like to see in a magazine for the disabled community? (please mark all that apply)· Relationships· Fashion (including alternative/adapted fashion for the wheelchair user or amputee like myself!)· Employment · Leisure· Celebrities· True Life Tales· Triumph over Tragedies· News2. Please rate the following in order of importance: i.e. how much coverage should be given to each section in the magazine, if at all. Very important = a lot of coverage Not at all important = little or no coverage· Relationships· Fashion (including alternative/adapted fashion for the wheelchair user or amputee like myself!)· Employment · Leisure· Celebrities· True Life Tales· Triumph over Tragedies· News3. Which of the following (if any) would you like to see in the magazine:· Top tips for seeking employment· Self issues i.e. tackling self-esteem issues/coming to terms with a disability· Dating issues including relationships and sex· Fashion i.e. ideas and tips for adapting clothes for individual needs· Community sections: letters pages/problem pages/personal ads etc· Celebrities with a disability 4. Is there another section you’d like to see but hasn’t been listed above?5. What do you think is most important:· Accepting yourself· Others accepting you· Other (please state)6. The magazine is intended to be as ‘mainstream’ as possible, in an attempt to bridge the gap between the ‘disabled’ and the ‘able-bodied’ as well as embracing and celebrating the very nature of disability. Do you think this is good idea in practice, or do you think it should be angled differently? Please explain your answer.7. And finally: What words do you think should be used to refer to a person with a disability?· Disabled· Different-abled· Physically-challenged· Different· Other (please state)
|
