[Journalists] Fw: MT Baltimore Examiner story on media coverage of blind candidate

[Deborah Kendrick]

Thought you'd all like to see this.
I love the headline and lead.  And wonder how the reporter copes with such a 
last name!
But love the story.
Deborah

----- Original Message ----- 
 Baltimore Examiner story on media coverage of blind candidate


Lt. governor hopeful, media take on role of blindness
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Jaime Malarkey, The Examiner
Jul 12, 2006 5:00 AM (6 hrs ago)

BALTIMORE - Think it's tough to criticize a blind former missionary and 
mother of two?


Bring it on, says Kristen Cox, Maryland's Republican candidate for 
lieutenant governor.
Already, "untested" and "inexperienced" are among the blue-plate words 
reporters are using to describe her, Cox said, and constant references to 
her disability are testing her patience.
"But I think it's to be expected," Cox told The Examiner Tuesday. "People 
are curious and I think that would be the characteristic they would 
initially focus on."
But Cox said she hopes in weeks to come the public and press will focus less 
on her blindness and more on her vision for Maryland's future, and her track 
record as the state's Secretary on Disabilities under Gov. Robert Ehrlich. 
As long as news coverage is fair and accurate, Cox said she's ready for 
judgment.
Media experts said they expect journalists to critique Cox the same as any 
other politician, but don't expect them to drop her disability.
"It's kind of like race - reporters still mention race in a lot of stories," 
said Beth Haller, a journalism professor at Towson University who has 
researched news coverage of disability issues. "It's something unique that 
adds a little something to the story."
That's OK for David Paterson, a black, blind candidate for lieutenant 
governor in New York. He said he began his political career trying to hide 
his blindness, until a local restaurant owner called Paterson arrogant for 
not waving back to him as he walked by.
After telling the man about his sight problems, he attended a fundraiser and 
donated 10 times more than Paterson asked, he said in a phone interview 
Tuesday.
But Paterson said constant references to his disability in newsprint 
sometimes makes him feel like a trailblazer for equal opportunity rights, or 
that he is using his blindness to manipulate politics. But, he said, being 
blind doesn't mean journalists are softer on him - they just pay more 
attention.
"When I'm good, they like that I'm good, but when I'm bad, they note that 
I'm bad," he said. "There's no middle ground."
Regardless of publicity, blindness advocates said Cox and Paterson's 
candidacies are testaments to increasing independence for the disabled.
Marc Maurer, president of the Baltimore-based National Federation for the 
Blind, called Cox a "leader who happens to be blind."
"I am proud to live in a state where blindness is not considered to be a 
barrier for running for public office," Maurer said.
jmalarkey at baltimoreexaminer.com