HIV & AIDS in the media Lilian Chigona Panos Southern Africa

2 Panos Institute Southern Africa Part of a global network of 8 Panos institutes Agenda-Amplifying marginalised voices Articulating voices of most affected How? Communication ie media work, assessments, in depth studies Belief- The media have potential to contribute to reducing the rates of HIV infection, the levels of stigma and advocate for favourable conditions for plwh.

3 Continued Need for Information Radio and television, newspapers are cited by many people as key sources for information about HIV & AIDS Journalists can contribute a great deal to effective communication for change of attitudes, behaviour, policy, practice etc Panos has worked on media capacity building for years

4 JLWH-The concept Why JLWH? The media left out, Mildred story JLWH contribution to AIDS Response:-There are challenges with the way the media have reported on HIV and AIDS: Sensationalism Lack of depth Human interest AIDS fatigue Engaging JLWH can significantly solve the problem

5 HIV and the Media HIV and AIDS affect the media externally and professionally  The target clients  News and feature stories carried HIV and AIDS affect the media internally and personally  Infected media personnel  Affected media personnel Who cares for these? Journalists need to put on their own mask first

6 Personal Impacts Anxiety, self-stigma, external stigma Fear-unknown fear preventing people from accessing services Fear of dialogue in the newsroom Fear of general public

7 The Disabling Fear of how Others Might React ‘I remember sitting in the news room and hearing my colleagues talk negatively about HIV and AIDS……the whole time, I thought “no, I cant tell them” The more I kept it to myself, the more it ate me up inside’ I do remember the silent tears falling down my face and the feeling of fear. -JLWH from Zimbabwe The fear was not that I might die but the fear of ‘what if’ people found out. ‘What if’ my colleagues find out? what will my friends say? My family? ‘What if’ I lose weight – how will I explain it to people? ‘What if’ someone recognizes me at the HIV clinic? ‘What if’ they find out at work?

8 Setting up of the Network of JLWH Lusaka Meeting Country level mobilisation Progress in countries like Malawi, Zim, Zambia Support from HIVOS-experience in Swaziland

9 Potential Impact of JLWH Improving service uptake among fellow journalists and general population Improving quality of reporting on HIV and AIDS-use of proper/acceptable language, human interest, sensitivity, etc Reducing HIV and AIDS-related stigma

10 What journalists Need Understand the epidemic Know and deal with the drivers-for journos, for the general public Fight stigma and discrimination Champion the concerns of vulnerable groups Keep issues on top of agenda – work against AIDS fatigue and complacency Feature marginalized groups – disabled, prisoners, elderly, MSM, CSW, children who are HIV positive

11 The PSAf’s Mildred Mpundu Fund Supports community media in Zambia to develop workplace policies and programmes  ensures access to treatment, services and referral for those who are affected and/or infected  addresses stigma and discrimination Ensure that HIV and AIDS programme are sensitive and more indepth

12 Journalists need a Workplace Policy Most workplaces have a policy however; The environment is not favourable for service uptake Stigma is still very high in newsrooms JLWH join the crowd by using stigmatising statements so that they do not raise attention Journalists end up accessing services when it is too late

13 Conclusion Concern with HIV and AIDS will make one a better journalist who uses appropriate language and reports from a personal interest angle ‘ Liberation of our media from fear of HIV and AIDS will automatically liberate others’ Prof. MJ Kelly