Blind Journalists Remain an Untapped Resource

Photo credit: Randy Lee Belice, Lisa Birmingham and The Chicago Lighthouse

Communicators in management seeking to bring about more inclusion and diversity in their newsrooms may look to Chicago Lighthouse Media as a role model to follow. 

An initiative of The Chicago Lighthouse, is to engage blind journalists to produce the content, conduct the research and serve as hosts. 

Noting that the CDC shows that nearly 61 million people - about a quarter of the population - identify as having a disability, Chicago Lighthouse President and CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk says, "Chicago Lighthouse Media provides people with disabilities a place to tell their stories, using their own voices accurately and respectfully."

Chicago Lighthouse Media is also unique, according to Sandy Murillo, one of the blind journalists actively involved in the program. 

"To the best of our knowledge, we may be the only media platform in the nation that fully utilizes our talents," she observes.

On a typical day, Murillo and her colleague, Kalari Girtley, who is also blind, scan news sites and social media for compelling story ideas, do background research and prep for interviews.  

Then both women take to the airwaves and report on such topics as accessible travel and tourism, cooking without sight and service animal discrimination.

These items and more comprise the "Disability Minute," a weekly segment focusing on issues of concern to Chicago's disabled community while at the same championing access and inclusion for a group that has all too often been marginalized.                                 

Airing on the city's top-rated CBS Radio affiliate, WBBM AM, the "Disability Minute" is the lynch pin of Chicago Lighthouse Media.

What helps Murillo and Girtley, who serve as producers and hosts of the broadcast, bond with their audience is not only their disability but that both are also young women of color. 

A native of the Chicago area who is a ten-year veteran of The Lighthouse, Murillo, 36, earned a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois.

Girtley, 40, who is also observing her tenth anniversary at the agency this year earned a journalism degree from the U of I as well.

"Sandy and I are almost soul sisters in that we are among the first U of I journalism grads who are totally blind," she smiles.

Both women credit Lighthouse Media for enabling them to gain invaluable experience while helping to hone their writing and interviewing skills.  For Murillo, it was hosting her own blog, "Sandy's View."  For Girtley, it was hosting her blog, "Coffee with Kalari."

They point out that the program originally began with CRIS (Chicagoland Reading Information Service), a radio reading service for Chicago area residents who are blind and disabled.  Funded in part by local Lions clubs, CRIS showcased the talents of volunteers who would come into the studio each day and share information about politics, sports, entertainment and other topics.  

Incidentally, Murillo and Girtley are Lions, and the organization continues to support Lighthouse Media.

Originally housed in space provided by the Chicago Cultural Center, CRIS moved its operations to The Lighthouse in 2006 under the  direction of longtime radio broadcaster Bill Jurek, who was blind himself.

"In 2018, we discussed plans to transform CRIS and incorporate it into a more extensive media hub, called Chicago Lighthouse Media," recalls Murillo, adding that the operation's facilities were made fully accessible one year later in 2019.   

"Fortunately, COVID 19 receded and we were able to get back on track with the launching of the "Disability Minute" in 2021," she says.  "We are so grateful to WBBM for their commitment to our community and their faith in us to produce a segment that is in keeping with the station's very high standards of excellence."

Noting that a sizeable segment of the U.S. population identifies as having a disability and with the aging of the massive baby boom generation, even more people will fit into this category, Girtley maintains that programming like the "Disability Minute" is absolutely essential.

"There are so many topics for us to tackle and issues to spotlight," she says.

Murillo notes that CRIS Radio remains an important part of Lighthouse Media but now much of the recording is done remotely by volunteers.

"We are fortunate to have a corps of talented and dedicated people we can rely on," she says.

Both Murillo and Girtley express the hope that platforms like Chicago Lighthouse Media will thrive in other cities around the country.

"Not only does it provide an invaluable public service, but it helps to break down barriers and promote a more inclusive and just society," Girtley states.