Media & Publishing Website Accessibility Compliance
News sites, digital magazines, and streaming publishers must make articles, video, audio, and subscription flows accessible to readers and viewers with disabilities.
Legal Risk for Media & Publishing
Media companies carry an accessibility obligation most industries do not: time-based media. Uncaptioned video, missing transcripts, and audio without descriptions violate WCAG 1.2 success criteria and, for video programming, the CVAA. Paywall and subscription modals that trap keyboard focus are a fast-growing source of complaints.
Common Accessibility Issues in Media & Publishing
Video content published without synchronized captions
Podcasts and audio articles without text transcripts
Subscription and paywall modals that trap keyboard focus
Auto-playing carousels and ad interstitials with no pause control
Applicable Regulations
Check Your Media & Publishing Website Now
Free scan checks 100+ accessibility rules against WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Results in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my media & publishing website required to be ADA compliant?
Yes. Under ADA Title III, media & publishing websites that serve the public are considered places of public accommodation and must be accessible to people with disabilities. Courts have consistently ruled that websites fall under ADA requirements.
What WCAG level should media & publishing websites target?
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the standard referenced by most courts and regulatory bodies for media & publishing website accessibility. This covers criteria like text contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, and form labels.
What happens if my media & publishing website isn't accessible?
Non-compliant media & publishing websites risk demand letters, lawsuits (reported settlements commonly range from $50,000 to $150,000), DOJ investigations, and loss of customers who cannot use the site. Over 3,117 federal ADA website lawsuits were filed in 2025 alone (UsableNet).
How do I fix accessibility issues on my media & publishing website?
Start with an automated scan to identify machine-detectable issues, then prioritize critical and serious violations. Common fixes include adding alt text to images, ensuring sufficient color contrast, labeling form inputs, and enabling keyboard navigation. CompliaScan provides specific fix suggestions for each issue found.
Media & Publishing Accessibility by Location
City-specific compliance guides with local lawsuit statistics, state laws, and disability population data.