Media Watch
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Crisis or chronic: Misrepresenting the HIV epidemic
World AIDS Day coverage suggests subeditors might be out of touch when it comes to HIV’s status as a chronic but manageable condition. Two articles in the Star and The Citizen this week feature headlines, captions and pictures that seem to indicate some editors are still stuck in a time when HIV and death were inextricably linked. While the journalism in the articles was HIV savvy, drawing distinctions between HIV and AIDS and maintaining that people living with HIV can live life to the full, the elements that subeditors are generally responsible for (headlines and photographs) did not reflect what living with HIV is like today.Fact and friction: Getting facts right is essential
A desperate lack of basic HIV knowledge is still an issue, even among journalists reporting on HIV-related news stories.
Slips ups in the use of HIV terminology in this Thursday’s Sowetan illustrate that basic but vital facts about HIV, like the difference between HIV and AIDS, are still not common knowledge.
In continuing coverage of the trial of a father and son allegedly involved in multiple cases of rape, Sowetan reported on allegations that one of the accused infected a woman with HIV.
Daily Sun misrepresents HIV as “the deadly disease”
The Daily Sun’s sensationalist language undermines a positive message.
An article in Tuesday’s Daily Sun praised a celeb singer Nandi Mngoma’s quest to shine a “positive light on HIV/Aids”.
But ironically, despite trying to promote a message of education and upliftment, the article shoots itself in the foot by repeatedly referring to HIV “as the deadly disease”.
HIV terminology: Say it right
The New Age (TNA) continues to willingly and refreshingly engage with HIV through regular stories and reports. But using the correct terminology to write about the subject accurately and sensitively is equally important as having HIV feature in the news regularly.
On Monday (6 February 2012) TNA published a story on the plight of children orphaned by AIDS in the Eastern Cape. The article highlights the lack of government and community support for children in child-headed households.
However the headline and text of the TNA story repeatedly mention “AIDS orphans”. At first glance this might seem more like a case of calling a spade a spade than an instance of using the incorrect terminology, but when the term is subjected to scrutiny it is revealed to be somewhat problematic.
Papers should use “AIDS” carefully
News articles continue to confuse the HIV and AIDS issues by using the wrong terms in the wrong contexts. Besides the fact that this is technically incorrect, HIV terminology should reflect the changing nature of the condition, which has been mediated by interventions.
The headline of an article in yesterday’s edition of the Sunday Times gives us a perfect example of how not to frame an otherwise decent article on HIV.
The article which talks about new research aiming to find out why South African youth are worse affected by HIV than their US counterparts, not only lumps HIV and AIDS together in the now defunct HIV/AIDS combination but the headline also makes the mistake of talking about an ‘AIDS rate.’
Good intentions overshadowed by errors
An article in The New Age (TNA) exemplifies the importance of verification of information received from sources. The piece is also riddled with HIV-specific language and terminology issues which could affect the way HIV and AIDS and those who are affected by the conditions are perceived.Page 1 of 1 pages
