143 Page Nos. 143-149 PORTRAYAL OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF “TIMES OF INDIA’’ Medha Rajesh Mangurkar* Shivani Kailas Bagul** Mass media are capable to creating various kinds of impact on mankind. Print media play an important role to play as social monitor and stimulator of new idea. According to Census 2011 in India 2.21% persons are „disabled‟. This article examines portrayal of people with disability in Times of India newspaper. A content analysis was conducted on 36 news published in the newspaper from 1 st April 2019 to 15 th March 2020. The study found that the Times of India newspaper have a less focus on disabled persons. The analysis showed that even on the celebration of the International Day of People with Disability the coverage of disability news is not satisfactory. The majority of the news published are relating to the mental disability. There was a good use of photographs in the disability related news. The authors recommend that the press media need to cover all types of disability related news and with more frequency. Keywords: People with disability, Disability, Newspaper Content analysis, Times of India, Disability and Media INTRODUCTION: The media - television, radio, newspaper, magazines, the Internet, and other forms play an important role in influencing public opinion and attitudes. Media are capable of creating various kinds of impact on mankind. They play a crucial role in the function and change of any society. Newspapers as mass media do not just observe and report but ask, pursue, investigate, doubt and demand. In this information society, the role of press is increasing day by day. Newspaper are also vital outlets for the society to foster public dialogues through education initiatives and to consider alternative ways of looking at and engaging with certain minorities such as people with disabilities. Portraying people with disabilities with dignity and respect in the media can help promote more inclusive and tolerant societies. Media can help to increase awareness throughout society about the realities faced by disabled persons, prejudices and harmful practices, and promote awareness of their capabilities and contributions. Also it is also important that both journalists and communications professionals connect disability issues with human dignity and rights. People with disability make up nearly 2.21% of Indian population according to Census 2011. (Ministry of social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 2019)Twenty-five years on from the implementation of the person with disabilities Act (1995), media representation of people with disability has become even more significant. In order to understand the people with disability a content analysis of news reported from leading newspapers may help at great extent. The Times of India (TOI) is an Indian English language daily newspaper owned by the ‗The Times Group‘. It is the third largest newspaper in India by circulations daily in the world According to Audit Bureau of Circulation (India). It is the oldest English language *Assistant Professor - Department of Library and Information Science, HPT Arts and RYK Science College, Nashik **M.Lib.I.Sc. Student - Department of Library and Information Science, HPT Arts and RYK Science College, Nashik