1 of 62

Building a Culture of Accessibility

And Understanding Why It Matters

NICAR 2025

2 of 62

Links (in case you’re tired)

Slides: �https://bit.ly/nicar25-accessibility

Tip Sheet: �https://bit.ly/nicar25-accessibility-tips

3 of 62

Who we are

Joanna S Kao�(she/her)�Pulitzer Center AI editor�Moderator

Stacy Kess�(she/her)�Equal Access Public Media

Karen K. Ho�(she/her)�ARTNews

Joe Murphy�(he/him)�NBC News

4 of 62

Accessibility

What it is: �The idea of making where we go, online and in the real world, available to people regardless of disability or ability. Equity in interactions, information and services.

5 of 62

Accessibility

Who it applies to: �Most of us, at some point in our lives. There are multiple types of disability, from permanent to temporary to situational.

6 of 62

Accessibility

Why care about accessibility �We care about our coworkers, we care about our audience, we care about ourselves.

7 of 62

Disability Includes A Lot of People

8 of 62

Disability Includes A Lot of People

In the U.S., more than one in four adults (about 76 million), according to the CDC’s latest data.

9 of 62

Disability Includes A Lot of People

In the U.S., more than one in four adults (about 76 million), according to the CDC’s latest data.
Multiple types, from cognitive to mobility to vision and hearing.

10 of 62

Disability Includes A Lot of People

In the U.S., more than one in four adults (about 76 million), according to the CDC’s latest data.
Multiple types, from cognitive to mobility to vision and hearing.
More common among older adults — Nearly 24% for adults 18-44 have a disability, compared to 29% of adults 45-64 and 44% of adults 65 and older.

11 of 62

Three types of impairment

12 of 62

Three types of impairment

A permanent disability is an amputated arm

13 of 62

Three types of impairment

A permanent disability is an amputated arm
A temporary one is an arm in a cast

14 of 62

Three types of impairment

A permanent disability is an amputated arm
A temporary one is an arm in a cast
A situational one is being arrested and being put in handcuffs.

15 of 62

Anyone can become disabled

16 of 62

Anyone can become disabled

It can happen to everyone

17 of 62

Anyone can become disabled

It can happen to everyone
It can be invisible

18 of 62

Anyone can become disabled

It can happen to everyone
It can be invisible
As the population ages, so will the number of people with disabilities

19 of 62

Building A Culture �Of Accessibility In The Newsroom

20 of 62

What Journalists and Employees Need

21 of 62

What Journalists and Employees Need

The ability to work remotely

22 of 62

What Journalists and Employees Need

The ability to work remotely
Flexible hours

23 of 62

What Journalists and Employees Need

The ability to work remotely
Flexible hours
Working on teams

24 of 62

Benefits From These Accommodations

25 of 62

Benefits From These Accommodations

Better news coverage outside of NY, LA & DC

26 of 62

Benefits From These Accommodations

Better news coverage outside of NY, LA & DC
More capacity for life stuff and when news happens

27 of 62

Benefits From These Accommodations

Better news coverage outside of NY, LA & DC
More capacity for life stuff and when news happens
Lower individual burden helps with mental health and burnout crisis

28 of 62

Audience Accessibility Through Formats

800-1000 word article

29 of 62

Audience Accessibility Through Formats

800-1000 word article
Video news story with sign language �and closed captioning

30 of 62

Audience Accessibility Through Formats

800-1000 word article
Video news story with sign language �and closed captioning
Simplified language version in the Easy English format

31 of 62

A Doctor’s Note Is Essential

32 of 62

A Doctor’s Note Is Essential

Specifies the disability recognized by the ADA

33 of 62

A Doctor’s Note Is Essential

Specifies the disability recognized by the ADA
What accommodations are needed

34 of 62

A Doctor’s Note Is Essential

Specifies the disability recognized by the ADA
What accommodations are needed
Why those accommodations are necessary

35 of 62

Accessible Publishing:�Two categories to focus on

36 of 62

Advocate for what’s outside your control

37 of 62

Advocate for what’s outside your control

Find your allies

38 of 62

Advocate for what’s outside your control

Find your allies
Reach out to Social Team about alt-text

39 of 62

Advocate for what’s outside your control

Find your allies
Reach out to Social Team about alt-text
Contact Product Team or Engineering

40 of 62

Take action on what you have power over

41 of 62

Take action on what you have power over

Alt-text

42 of 62

Take action on what you have power over

Alt-text
Linked text with three words

43 of 62

Take action on what you have power over

Alt-text
Linked text with three words
Integrating basic HTML

45 of 62

Alt-text

Decorative images (including stock photos): no alt-text

46 of 62

Alt-text

Decorative images (including stock photos): no alt-text
Photos: Describe who, what, where and when

47 of 62

Alt-text

Decorative images (including stock photos): no alt-text
Photos: Describe who, what, where and when
Screenshots of text: Include as much of the text as possible.

48 of 62

Alt-text for Graphics

49 of 62

Alt-text for Graphics

Describe what the data is showing – “a bar chart that shows the number of elephant stampede deaths per year in the United States since 1965.”

50 of 62

Alt-text for Graphics

Describe what the data is showing – “a bar chart that shows the number of elephant stampede deaths per year in the United States since 1965.”
If it’s a lot of data, describe the range (“deaths range from zero to 50 per year”)

51 of 62

Alt-text for Graphics

Describe what the data is showing – “a bar chart that shows the number of elephant stampede deaths per year in the United States since 1965.”
If it’s a lot of data, describe the range (“deaths range from zero to 50 per year”)
Describe notable trends, initial values, and final values

52 of 62

AI and �Assistive Technologies:�Valid Uses and Hard No’s

53 of 62