Media
SAfAIDS Media department partners with print and broadcast media in southern Africa and beyond to ensure HIV and AIDS continues to be part of the media agenda.
Highlight!!
SAfAIDS Media Resource Desk wins award at the recently held 4th SA AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa
Enganging the media in HIV/TB response: SAfAIDS Experience in Zimbabwe - presentation by Beatrice Tonhodzayi
Activities being implemented include:
- Coordination and Management of the Media Resource Desk (MRD)
- Television and Radio Production
- Capacity Building of journalists and other media practitioners on HIV and AIDS
- Coordinating and moderating electronic discussion forums (eForums)
The main objectives of the media department are:
- Establish a network of key media players who can sustain interest and provide regular coverage of HIV and AIDS and related issues
- Develop information products, services and materials to meet the specific needs of different media organisations
- Coordinate and conduct training workshops that develop skills to encourage proactive reporting on HIV and AIDS in a sustained manner, and
- Facilitate dialogue, debate and discussion on topical and cutting edge HIV and AIDS issue.
The Media Resource Desk is a one-stop shop for journalists and other media practitioners to access quick, accurate and user-friendly information on HIV and AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support. The desk acts as a focal point for any enquiries on HIV and AIDS information by the media, as well as a gateway for SAfAIDS to channel HIV and AIDS information to the media. Under the MRD, a number of resources for journalists which include, factsheets, newsletters and newsflashes are produced. Most of these resources are uploaded on the MRD website.
Print, Radio and Television Production
SAfAIDS runs weekly newspaper columns on HIV and AIDS in three different countries. In Lesotho, SAfAIDS runs a Lifeline Column ‘Public Eye' newspaper. In Swaziland, a Lifeline column runs in the ‘Swaziland Observer' while in Zimbabwe, rhere is a ‘Let's Talk about AIDS' column in ‘The Herald'. These articles are aimed at providing readers with key HIV and AIDS information in an edutainment format.
SAfAIDS Media has recently introduced ‘In Touch', a publication aimed at providing journalists in the region a platform to interact and share ideas and experiences on their work as health reporters specialising on HIV and AIDS issues. The publication is also aimed at providing guidelines and tips on how to report effectively on HIV and AIDS.
Download:
In Touch Volume 1, Issue 1 - June 2008
In Touch Volume 1, Issue 2 - October 2008
In Touch Volume 1, Issue 3 - December 2008
Television and Radio Production
The unit has and continues to produce behaviour change communication through TV and Radio programmes in the region.
Previous TV and Video productions
- Heads and tales
- Positive Voices
- Perspectives
- Complementing National Efforts on ART (Zambia)
eForums for Dialogue, Debate and Discussion
Dialogue is an essential part of social action. The voices of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS need to be heard clearly in international, regional, national and local debates. By opening channels of communication, effective policies and programmes can be developed to address emerging issues related to HIV and AIDS, An emphasis on developing activities and programmes that create a platform for individuals and organisations, as well as policy makers and community leaders affected by the epidemic, to express, discuss and debate issues impacting on them is given.
SAfAIDS, in partnership with Health & Development Networks (HDN) through its Media unit, coordinates and moderates eForums which are part of the National Partnership Platforms. The eForums are into three categories: national, regional and issue-based eForums.
National eForums
In November 2005, Partners Zimbabwe officially launched its new national electronic discussion forum (eForum) for the debate and discussion on HIV and AIDS and other health- and development-related issues in Zimbabwe.
In February 2007, Partners Zambia officially launched its new national electronic discussion forum (eForum) for the debate and discussion on HIV and AIDS and other health- and development-related issues in Zambia.
Regional eForum
AF-AIDS is an eForum focused on HIV and AIDS and other health and development issues in Africa. Founded in March 1998, AF-AIDS is a moderated eForum with support from a virtual network of experts called the AF-AIDS eForum Resource Team.
Issue-Based eForum
Accelerating-Prevention eForum
SAfAIDS, with technical support from HDN and financial support from UNAIDS, launched the new time-limited discussion on Accelerating Prevention in April 2007.The discussion on Accelerating-Prevention aims to:
- create a space for an expert, focused discussion on key issues related to HIV prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa
- stimulate further discussion on the conclusions of the SADC Think Tank Meeting, May 2006
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For more information about the e-discussion platforms (eForums) please visit: www.healthdev.org or email: kevin@safaids.net
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Contact us:
17 Beveridge Road
Avondale
Harare
Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-336193/4, 307898
Fax: +263-4-336195
Email: mediadesk@safaids.org.zw
Website: www.mediaresourcedesk.org
