Policy on HIVAids reporting 1 Overview HIVAids as

Policy on HIV/Aids reporting.

1) Overview. HIV/Aids as a national crisis n Stigmas and stereotypes attached to the disease n Responsibilty of the national media n

Oppurtunities for the media n Generation of public discussion n Transforming public attitudes towards HIV/Aids and people n Affect language of HIV/Aids n However n Journalists are not spokespersons n Journalists are not health educators

2) Current HIV/Aids coverage. n Effect of stereotypes n Effect of Aids dissidents debate n Effect of scientific/medical aspects n Economic aspects of news n Treatment of journalists among NGO’s/ scientists/government n Skew of HIV/Aids info in the news

Current HIV/Aids coverage. n Journalists need more interaction with communities n Current edeavours are too shallow n Prevalence of white denial/ignorance

3) Suggestions for HIV/Aids reporting. n Sources: • • • • Aids consortium: www. aidsconsortium. org. za African Women’s Media Centre www. awme. com Aids education Global information system: www. aegis. com Health-e news agency www. health-e. org. za Public service accountability: www. psam. org. za Churches in G. town Louise Vale: Managing director of Grocott’s mail Student HIV/AIDS Resistance Campaign (SHARC) Sister Val Donnachie at the Rhodes University Sanatorium Jabu Van Niekerk at the Raphael Centre. Rhodes University style guide 2003. HIV/Aids: A resource for journalists Centre for HIV/Aids development research and evaluation: www. cadre. org. za

Broad guidelines n HIV/Aids needs to be portrayed as a matter of national security n Journalists need to understand medical aspects of the disease n Possibility of training programs for journalists n Development of a contact/resource base

Broad guidelines n Development of networking with HIV/Aids organisations n Advocate openness about HIV/Aids and sex n Need for localised statistics. n Possible addition of wellness supplement. n Expansion of beats to include HIV/Aids

Ethical Considerations n Rights of people living with HIV/Aids – Privacy and confidentiality protected by the constitution. – HIV status of an individual is private unless otherwise stated. – Name or photograph of an individual with HIV should not be published without that persons’ express consent.

Ethical Considerations n Issues for journalists when obtaining informed consent. – To clearly identify themselves – To state the purpose, context and possible ramifications of the coverage. – Ensure they have disclosed their status to their partners and families.

Ethical Considerations n Exceptions to the right of privacy. n The rights of children infected or affected by HIV/Aids – Journalists should consider children’s vulnerability in society. – Consent should involve child’s guardian/carer/adult

Issues that need to covered. n Sexual abstinence as an option n Male attitudes toward women and sex n Empowerment of women n Question of employment n Publicity for community HIV/Aids services and support groups. n De-stigmatizing

Specific guidelines for HIV/Aids reporting n n n n HIV is the virus that causes Aids. It is important to recognise this distinction. Avoid stigmas and assumptions Avoid “Aids victims”/ “Aids sufferers” Avoid cliché’s : e. g. . “full blown Aids” Avoid sensationalism and war metaphors. HIV is an epidemic not a scourge or plague. CD 4 cell count test is preferred to “Aids test”

Specific guidelines for HIV/Aids reporting n Contract HIV is preferred to “catch HIV” n “Innocent” is a word which suggests someone else is guilty and it should be avoided. No one with HIV/Aids deserves or chooses to contract it. n “Sex worker” is preferred to “prostitute”

Rights and responsibilities of journalists reporting on HIV/Aids Access to information is guaranteed constitutionally. n Duties of journalist to society in terms of advocacy journalism. n Accuracy should always be ensured: by keeping informed of current information concerning HIV/Aids n Informed reporting should be provided by including contexts: e. g. when using statistics. n

Rights and responsibilities of journalists reporting on HIV/Aids n Diversity of sources should be maintained and non-discrimination upheld at all times. n Scepticism is useful when reporting claims by government, service organisations and “cures”.

Some valuable resources for journalists. - Love life: www. lovelife. org. za - African Women’s Media Centre www. awme. com - Aids law project: www. hri. ca/partner. alp Heywoodm@law. wits. ac. za - Treatment action campaign: www tac. org. za/Info@tac. org. za - Raphael Centre - HIV/Aids: A Resource for Journalists - Centre for HIV/Aids development research and evaluation: www. cadre. org. za - Soul city: www. soulcity. org. za