Journalists and Health Communicators - They are Not the Same

From the July/August issue of Global AIDSLink, published by the Global Health Council, this author discusses the HIV/AIDS reporting skills training needs of journalists in an expanding media landscape "[Because the information technology] revolution is increasingly providing opportunities for airing multiple perspectives and creating space for public discussion, debate and analysis", as stated here, "journalists could play a key role in stimulating public discussion on complex issues and touch the lives of their audience. But to do this they will require the skills, resources and information to develop their potential."


The author differentiates between the "purchased news" of international NGOs trying to disseminate quick and focused HIV prevention messages and news reports written by local editors and journalists from their own investigations. He suggests that those countries with the biggest challenges from HIV/AIDS may face increased "opportunities for airing multiple perspectives and creating space for public discussion, debate and analysis" from the growing number of local radio stations, print publications, wider Internet connectivity, and "television in places where there was none before with multiple, often commercial, channels where once there was only one". He states that because local and national news is still the primary source of information in most developing countries, that journalists could "play a key role in stimulating public discussion on complex issues and touch the lives of their audience", particularly on the radio, as well as on television and in newspapers.


However, to create their own programmes relevant to their audiences in their local vernacular, journalists need training to develop the skills for quality HIV/AIDS journalism that opens participatory debate and discussion among their audience members. The time, effort, and financial resources for the level of training required to bring health-focused news, feature stories, and talk show programmes into the mainstream media would, according to this article, serve the goals of both global HIV//AIDS partnerships and media development partnerships.


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