Mekong Turns Around HIV/AIDS
Harnessing the power of mass media to fight HIV/AIDS
Context and Issue:
Turnaround Time began its first year by seizing the unique opportunity of the 15th Annual International Conference on AIDS and STDs (IAC) in Bangkok as a platform for engaging and training more than 100 media professionals in the Mekong, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. The project sought, through training for media professionals, to build skills, information networks and policy dialogues. It also promoted in-country and regional expertise by supporting a burgeoning leadership of media professionals and experts who were dedicated to reporting on HIV/AIDS and related issues. It also served as a forum for debate and information sharing, equipping journalists with the skills to provide high quality information to the region’s citizens.
Project's activities:
The project seeks to build skills, information networks and policy dialogues by supporting media professionals and experts who are dedicated to reporting on HIV/AIDS and related issues. It also serves as a forum for debate and information sharing, equipping journalists with the skills to provide high quality information to the region’s citizens. As part of the project, Internews Europe is conducting a series of training programmes in the Mekong region for local journalists who produced stories that show a significant reduction in stigmatising language and tone. Examples: - "By For and About Positive People" by Cheng Siv - "When love stays" by Thuy Nga - A radio report, aired in the Khmer language on RFI and FM 102 in Cambodia, by Chheang Bopha Apart from the above, the results also included: • creation of online communities in the three countries (Burma/Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam) with online publications in local languages putting together all articles published in the workshops: http://www.hiv-turnaround.net/ , http://cambodia.hiv-turnaround.net/ , http://souphorn.net78.net/, http://burma.hiv-turnaround.net/ and http://vietnam.hiv-turnaround.net/ • launch of mini Wiki platforms on HIV/AIDS issues in three countries (Burma/Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam) enabling information sharing, location and training of the CMS SPIP: http://www.wiki.hiv-turnaround.net/km
Participants and Beneficiaries:
In Vietnam, local stories in five leading newspapers increased by 16 per cent during May 2006 as compared to the same period the previous year. Comparison of general story quality on key indicators showed Internews’ trainees scored 16 per cent higher than the average national quality of coverage, chiefly due to higher standards in including PLHIV voices and the use of non-stigmatising language. In Cambodia, local print media stories increased by 26 per cent in May 2006 compared to the same period in the previous year. In Burma, private media responded with increased tolerance in the coverage of HIV and AIDS with a great increase in the number of stories that appeared during 2006 and 2007 (exact figures are not available). Internews’ trainees use less stigmatising terminology than is generally seen in coverage. A group of dedicated Internews-trained reporters and writers are showing a sustained interest in covering the topic of HIV/AIDS from many angles. With reference to the Burmese media in exile, in 2007, there was a sharp rise in prominent stories featuring PLHIV, in large part due to sustained and focused mentoring and liaison work by Internews. Internews’ trainees are showing the way to their colleagues in the use of non-stigmatising language in their stories. In all, 226 journalists received LV training, 125 journalists have undergone advanced training and 401 journalists are receiving mentoring support.
Outcomes:
Media surveys in all geographical locations show that there has been a steady increases in both frequency and quality of HIV/AIDS coverage in the Mekong region. However, there is still considerable work to be done to overcome culturally, socially and politically entrenched attitudes reflected in the continuing use of stigmatising and discriminating language and story angles in coverage. While Internews' interventions are clearly bringing about improvements, the work with editors and policy makers has been critical in gaining joint commitment from journalists and PLHIV to improve the quality of reporting on HIV for the better. There have been significant improvements in the quality and nature of coverage and a steady reduction in critical areas of use of stigmatising language combined with increases in the presentation of PLHIV voices in the media. Internews’ efforts in linking journalists with PLHIV groups as sources, and in supporting the emergence of PLHIV publications in Cambodia and Vietnam have demonstrated considerable results. This is clearly indicated in media surveys in Cambodia, where PLHIV stories have become the focus of media coverage in a more rounded light since 2007. Movement has also been seen in the opening up of media discourse on such sensitive topics as MSM, sex work, IDUs and Harm Reduction and related issues across the region. For example improved and increased coverage of MSM by the exiled Burmese media and of Harm Reduction/IDUs in Vietnam.
"I hope more positive people will become journalists, and the relationship between journalists and positive people will intertwine. Our press needs to draw more attention to HIV and AIDS for the sake of its people, especially those who live in the remote areas and are increasingly affected by Cambodia’s AIDS epidemic."
Cheng Siv. Cheng, Internews' Technical Advisor, Cambodia
