Re: Media needs to be sensitized

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Swami's point is very valid - the media needs to sensitized. I am based in Uttar

Pradesh, so let me share our experiences. But taking a step back and looking

what happened for the last five years. Every bus had a prominent hoarding that

screamed " AIDS ek Jaanleva Bimari " along with Senor Condom - AIDS is killer

disease and linking them with sexuality but making not effort to demystify it.

Again recently UPSACS put hoardings titled - " hero or zero " ; " Khiladi or Anari "

etc.

I am not defending the media people but all I am trying to point out that they

area product of this society. After all those messaging by the lead organising

by the state - what ideas do they from or what impression do they create? We are

asking the media to do an extra bit - be a little more sensitive or not to

sensationalize. But for that we all also have that extra responsibility to

ensure that our communications are of the same standard.

My experience has shown that they show a great sense of responsibility but you

have to reach out to them to tell and explain the intricacies of this issues and

once one has invested the time and shared ones commitment they also respond

quite well.

With warm regards.

SUMAN JANA

E-mail: <sumanjana@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I fully agree with Swamy's arguments but have you i.e. NGOs have ever thought of

working conditions of our media professionals?

There is no capacity building efforts from the Media Academies or publications,

frequent changes in work responsibilities, low salaries, certain times

circulating guys act like reporters in rural areas, bad working conditions, no

facilities, no office or infrastructures, and most of our mouffusil

correspondents have not seen PCs......

This is the situation in media and regional media is still pathetic.

Yes, in spite of all these constraints they do their jobs sincerely. But it is

so unfortunate that even the editor is unable to understand the mistakes or

factual errors done by his staff.

Media is not just India T.., or Week or Outlook or NDTV or Headline T...,it is

full of small and regional papers, Channels etc.

Is Funders or Govt. or NGOs etc. have ever made any grassroots study on working

pattern of our mainstream media ? No, I doubt very much.

Inspite of all odds, media is playing a major role.

Why don't you initiate funders to design a separate training program for

media?

Here, in K'taka, Bangalore we a group of mainstream media professionals

periodically conduct such workshops for media. Just

completed one on Budget, Revenue etc, now conducting on HIV AIDS and women also

producing audio and video episodes for electronic channels.

If you take it as a challenge or a serious assignment , we are ready to plan and

start the work in Katakana.

Waiting for group's debate on the subject. This itself a research assignment for

NGOs.

regards

Shamantha

E-mail: <shamantha@...>

[Guest guest]

Congratulations ,

You have hit the nail on the head. Nonody sees that the media is a total orphan

in this country though it looks like a highly paid job with lots of power.

Most media people do not know the difference between HIV and AIDS, Nearly all

reflect absolutely reactionary and neocon attitudes towards IV drug users, sex

workers and MSM.

Nearly all cannot write reports without sensationalising the news content. In a

recent article on HIV/AIDS in TIME magazine, the scandalous effort to denigrate

nearly ALL NGOs and the Indian government's efforts in HIV/AIFDS prevention was

so obvious that it was laughed off the stands.

And all media and funders badly need education on various subjects that concern

developmental journalism and reportage. We too run a small course on sensitising

media through inter-active sessions but it's a not holistic because it requires

more time from the media.

I think the new manual for reporters by Thomson Foundation will fill some of

those needs. The rest will have to be taken up by the media itself.

Ashok Row Kavi

E-mail: arowkavi@...

[Guest guest]

One sparrow does not make a spring!

When I was in Delhi and organised many seminars on HIV/AIDS on behalf of the

YWCA, invitations went to all media persons; small & big; visual, print and

telecommunications & cinema, to no avail.

The first question we'd be asked is : Who is the chief guest, who else is

coming. If there were no big names, even if the subject is interesting , no

media would turn up.

The first thing we must be clear in our mind is : Is media interested in

knowing? Do they think that they could report/write on the subject without

reading/researching the topic?

" Dr Shobha Varthaman "

E-mail: <drshobhav@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The Moderator,

Long long ago PANOS prepared handbooks for media regrding HIV/AIDS in

several Indian languages.

PRAYAS had prepared a set 2 books 1. What is HIV/AIDS (for media) and 2. Working

with the media (for NGOs).

For lack of follow up probably the efforts went in vein.

The new manual we hope fills in the gap.

Vinay Kulkarni

for PRAYAS

www.prayaspune.org

prayashealth@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

I really respect the views of and Swamy. Media has got to play a major

role in combating the HIV and AIDS problem. Recently In Deccan herald there was

a news on the headline " HIV infected man kills his wife and daughter and

committed sucide because of stigma and discrimination " . This kind of news will

add more fuel to the problem.

Media can be used in more useful manner.

As we know lot of money has been pumped to address this serious health and

developmental issue of HIV/AIDS.

There are prevention programmes addressing the high-risk groups, PPTC, VCTC,

Telecounseling, awareness programmes, care and support etc. NACO has started the

Free ART rollout Programmes from last one year. The ART is made available free

in district hospitals where the prevalence of HIV and AIDS is high.

However this information is only confined to urban areas that too only for few

people. As the HIV and AIDS epidemic is rapidly spreading to rural areas. People

in rural areas are still unaware of the availability

There are many deprived PLWHA's like mothers, children, in the rural areas who

are desperately in need of ART. But these segments are unaware of availability

of such services.

Media in co-ordination with NGOs and Positive People Network at District level

network could play a significant role in disseminating information like ART

services, VCTC., PPTC, Care and Support Centers, help line etc.

This information would reach to the People who are in need of such services.

Media in co-ordination with NGOs also need to propagate more positive stories

related to HIV and AIDS Stigma and discrimination.

NGOs and District Level Positive People network working at the grass root level

must come forward and liaise with the local media and newspaper (vernacular) in

addressing this serious issue.

Let us stop confronting each other and act on it.

Bharat S

E-mail: bharatwrites2001@...