Inside the Disabled Journalists’ Association–with Cara Reedy

OFF-KILTER with Rebecca Vallas

For this week’s episode, Rebecca sat down with Cara Reedy. She’s a journalist and the founder of a new organization called the Disabled Journalists Association (DJA)—which she’s spent the past two years setting up to identify the needs of disabled people in journalism and to amplify the voices of disabled journalists across the United States. It’s just getting off the ground and just launched its website this past week. (Check out discojourno.com to learn more, and if you’re a disabled journalist, check out the survey they’re running between now and October 2023 as they work to lay the foundation for DJA’s work.) They had a far-ranging conversation about the barriers to getting into journalism for disabled people today; the discrimination and ableism many face once they do make it into the newsroom and Cara’s own experience at a major news outlet; why inclusion in newsrooms matters to disability media coverage (and media coverage on all issues); how intentional, equitable, and diverse representation in newsrooms fits into the larger picture of disability economic justice; and lots more.

Links from this episode:

• Learn more about the Disabled Journalists Association at discojourno.com

• If you’re a disabled journalist, check out the survey DJA is running through October

• Follow Cara on Twitter at @infamouslyshort

• Nominate the changemakers you most want to hear from by emailing us at [email protected]