1 / 19

Media and HIV/AIDS

Media and HIV/AIDS. Anso Thom, Health-e News Service, South Africa. Examples of coverage specifically related to gay and lesbian issues. “The new plague/leprosy: Homos in a panic”.

leigh
Download Presentation

Media and HIV/AIDS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Media and HIV/AIDS Anso Thom, Health-e News Service, South Africa

  2. Examples of coverage specifically related to gay and lesbian issues

  3. “The new plague/leprosy: Homos in a panic”

  4. Visitor: How did you get Aids?Patient: A “poefadder” bit mePuff adder= snakePoef=derogatory term for a gay man

  5. Extraordinary disease - Our response as the media • Responsibility/role of the media • Individual responsibility • Voice of the poor, vulnerable • Influence public debate, policy, public discourse • Need to challenge the wrongs • ‘War’ correspondent

  6. Criticism from civil society/community groups • Disproportionate vulnerability of vulnerable groups – little understanding • Result? Sensational, overly simplistic representation of issues • Link between human rights violations and HIV vulnerability - criminalisation • Fail to draw opinion from organisations working with vulnerable groups • Invisible group – stereotype • Sexual behaviour in prisons – moralistic undertones? • Lack of positive stories

  7. Marathon runner • Baby steps • Follow-ups • Going back • Keeping the story alive – role of community organisations/civil society • Time to get to grips • Dedication • Not a job

  8. Approach at Health-e • Deciding on a story – what triggers it? • Access • Role players • Affected parties • Sense of needing to get voices heard • Informing/educating the public • Injustice • Nobody else prepared to dedicated time and resources

  9. Health-e • Big focus = Service delivery in public sector • Asking specifically how vulnerable populations catered for • Shame that need a parallel service – are they getting such a service? • Prevention messaging as important as access to treatment – is it targeted? • Accountability

  10. Human dimension • Critical part • Complex • Our responsibility • Scoop mentality • Once-off story • Follow-up • Respect • Language • Confidentiality

  11. Photographs/Visuals • Understanding • Respect • Making the best decision for the subject

  12. Developing relationships • Long term • Commitment • Dedicating time • Getting the story right • Responsibility of journalist operating within a complex environment/topic • Getting journalist to understand why they should care • Strong civil society • Checking facts

  13. Problem areas • Allowing the moralistic, dangerous voices to be heard • No pressure in terms of asking questions from researchers (research uncomfortable, complex) • Holding funders accountable • Laws don’t change people’s attitudes – Going the distance • Overwhelmed

  14. Developing relationships • Research – Releasing complex data which could reinforce prejudice • Packaging the information you share carefully • Always available • Painting the broader picture – impact on the broader community • Commitment to educate • SA vs rest of the continent – Possible avenues • Not lump all three vulnerable communities together

  15. Tapping into the media • Letters to the editor • Opinion pages • Electronic media especially radio • Web – using outside media to create consciousness around what happening in other countries • Newspapers – M&G • Good story will always be told

  16. Health-e News Service www.health-e.org.za +27-21-6838099 editor@health-e.org.za

More Related