Wednesday, April 20, 2011

S. Korea to hire its first disabled TV anchor

From JoongAng Daily in Korea:

KBS announced April 19 that it would hire a disabled person to be a news presenter in the near future, in what would be a first for Korea.

“This is not a one-time event but the disabled person will appear on a regular basis to deliver news and it will give viewers the message that disabled and able-bodied people have equal rights,” KBS said, adding that it would hold an open audition.

In November 2009, the U.K.’s Channel 5 hired James Partridge, who has facial disfigurement from severe burns, to read the news for a week.