In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Cara Reedy, founder and director of the Disabled Journalists Association. Cara shares her journey from political science and theater to journalism, spending ten years at CNN. She discusses the challenges of being disabled in the newsroom, toxic productivity, and the systemic ableism in the journalism industry. Cara then explains how her organization supports disabled journalists by providing resources and advocating for systemic changes in newsrooms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of intersectionality and the role of personal experience in shaping compelling and unbiased stories.

Relevant Links

• Disabled Journalists Association Twitter: https://x.com/discojourno
• Disabled Journalists Association LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/disabled-journalists-association
• Disabled Journalists Association Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disabledjournalists
• Disabled Journalists Association Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555117454122
• Cara Reedy website: https://www.infamouslyshort.com
• Disabled Journalists Association website: discojourno.com
• Judy Heumann white paper at Ford on media: https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/learning/research-reports/road-map-for-inclusion-changing-the-face-of-disability-in-media
• Learn about the inter-movement work between the Black Panthers and disability community: https://samischalk.com/black-disability-politics/