Page 304 - Emerging Trends and Innovations in Web-Based Applications and Technologies

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)
Special Issue on Emerging Trends and Innovations in Web-Based Applications and Technologies
Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Breaking Barriers with VISIONary News:

A Study on Accessibility and Inclusivity in News Platforms

Aastha Chaware , Rahul Baingane , Prof. Usha Kosarkar
1
3
2
1,2,3 Department of Science and Technology,
1,2 G H Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
3 G H Raisoni College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT The digital revolution has transformed the way news is
In today's interconnected world, access to timely and produced, distributed, and consumed. While the internet
accurate information is paramount for informed citizenship offers unprecedented opportunities for reaching wider
and societal participation. News platforms play a crucial audiences, it has also inadvertently created new forms of
role in disseminating this information, shaping public exclusion. Websites designed without accessibility in mind
discourse, and holding institutions accountable. can pose significant challenges for individuals with visual,
auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. Similarly, news
However, a significant portion of the population faces content presented solely in one language excludes non-
persistent barriers in accessing and engaging with online native speakers, limiting their access to crucial information
news content due to various disabilities, diverse linguistic about their local and global communities. Furthermore, the
backgrounds, and varying levels of digital literacy. This increasing complexity of online interfaces and the rapid
research, "Breaking Barriers with VISIONary News," evolution of digital technologies can create a digital divide,
undertakes a comprehensive investigation into the current leaving behind those with limited digital literacy.
state of accessibility and inclusivity within online news
platforms, aiming to identify challenges, highlight best This research argues that accessibility and inclusivity are not
practices, and propose actionable recommendations for merely add-ons or afterthoughts in the design of news
creating a more equitable and accessible news ecosystem platforms; they are fundamental principles that must be
for all. integrated from the outset. Creating truly accessible and
inclusive news experiences is not only an ethical imperative
This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining but also essential for fostering a more informed, engaged,
quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to and equitable society. When individuals are excluded from
provide a holistic understanding of the issue. A systematic accessing news, they are effectively disenfranchised, unable
website analysis of prominent international and national to fully participate in public discourse and contribute to
news websites is conducted, employing automated democratic processes.
accessibility checkers and manual evaluations based on the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This analysis 2. RELATED WORK
identifies prevalent accessibility errors, such as missing This section reviews existing literature and research relevant
alternative text for images, insufficient colour contrast, to accessibility and inclusivity in online news platforms. It
keyboard navigation difficulties, and inadequate captioning explores established accessibility guidelines, the impact of
for multimedia content. These findings provide a various disabilities on information access, the role of
quantitative measure of the current state of web assistive technologies, the challenges of multilingualism and
accessibility within the news industry. digital literacy, and existing studies on accessibility within

the media landscape. This review provides a contextual
1. INTRODUCTION framework for the present research and highlights the gaps
In an era defined by rapid information dissemination and it aims to address.
interconnectedness, access to timely, accurate, and diverse 2.1. Web Accessibility Guidelines and Standards:
news is not merely a convenience but a fundamental pillar of The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG),
informed citizenship and a healthy democracy. News developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are
platforms serve as crucial conduits for disseminating the internationally recognized standard for web accessibility.
information, fostering public discourse, holding institutions WCAG provides a set of guidelines and success criteria for
accountable, and empowering individuals to make informed making web content more accessible to people with
decisions about their lives and communities. However, the disabilities. This section will discuss:
promise of universal access to information remains
unfulfilled for a significant portion of the population. Ø WCAG principles (POUR): Perceivability, Operability,
Persistent barriers prevent individuals with disabilities, Understandability, and Robustness.
diverse linguistic backgrounds, and varying levels of digital Ø WCAG levels of conformance (A, AA, AAA): Explaining
literacy from fully participating in the consumption and the different levels of accessibility and their
understanding of news. This research, "Breaking Barriers implications.
with VISIONary News," addresses this critical issue by
investigating the current state of accessibility and inclusivity Ø Application of WCAG to news websites: Examining
within online news platforms. how WCAG guidelines apply specifically to news content,

IJTSRD | Special Issue on Emerging Trends and Innovations in Web-Based Applications and Technologies Page 294