Media Toolkit
If you are involved in any way in the South African media, whether you're a journalist or a script writer, you are bound to have crossed paths with South Africa's biggest killer: the HIV epidemic.
And at that point, your thoughts have probably been along these lines:
- Is HIV even still "news"?
- My readers/viewers don't want to hear about HIV (either because it's too depressing or because it doesn't affect them directly).
- HIV is far too complicated to tackle now and besides, I'm on deadline.
- Where do I even start?
We have the answer to all those questions, right here in one convenient website. Make journAIDS.org your first port of call for any HIV related story.
This section provides you with a toolkit to create “healthy” media on the HIV pandemic:
- Accuracy - Start with the basics and get to know the epidemic. Read our factsheets in the essential information section;
- Professionalism - If you need an expert look no further! Access our experts page of helpful contacts. They can answer questions you may have about HIV coverage;
- Consideration - Wondering what the moral implications of your story might be? Read our ethical guidelines as a framework for responsible media coverage of HIV, addressing such issues as accuracy, independence, and official policy;
- Reflection - When it comes to children, the media generally has different rules, objectives and taboos. How are we to responsibly cover the issue of children living with HIV?
- Creativity - Follow the reflections of writer Kerry Cullinan as she discusses the merits of narrative journalism; and
- See examples of responsible journalism in various formats.
