Journalists discuss media’s role in covering HIV/AIDS

A consultation workshop was organised to evolve a resource book for journalists on HIV/AIDS, in Chandigarh recently.Talking to mediapersons at the workshop, senior journalist Usha Rai said journalists covering the issue need to keep themselves updated with the latest in the field. The book, ‘Journalists as Catalysts’, is being developed by the Population Foundation of India with the support of UNDP, which would be ready by October, and distributed among mediapersons at another workshop on October 17 and 18, she said. Recomendations regarding free travel in public transport to persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) along with with one attendant, were made at the workshop. The group also advocated that the media should focus on local issues vis-a-vis HIV/AIDS and have increased interaction with PLHA besides, empowerment of NGOs. Since the lives and economic status of these people is insecure, concerns were raised for the care of their children. They also recommended use of grassroots level public platforms such as panchayats, anganwadis and religious platforms to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS. Rai said no doubt journalists needed to highlight the urgency of the HIV/AIDS situation and methods to tackle it, the manner in which it was done should not heighten the fear and stigma associated with the disease. Source:Indian Express

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