Browsing by Author "Galloway, Michelle Rotchford"

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    Telling the story of the century - how are journalists coping with reporting on HIV/AIDS in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-03) Galloway, Michelle Rotchford; Booyens, Bun; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Journalism
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This work presents a bird's eye view of the current state of South African journalism on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through case studies, examples and in-depth interviews with experts from science, clinical, health education, communications and journalism backgrounds, it outlines what South African newspaper journalists are currently doing in reporting on HIV/AIDS and emphasises the importance of their role in assisting in combatting this epidemic. It goes on to suggest some potential ideal roles which the newspaper press in South Africa cculd play in improving the level of knowledge available on this epidemic, encouraging preventive actions by individuals, and reinforcing other initiatives through the provision of accurate, well-explained information. The major findings include: an absence of 'genuine' science reporting on the epidemic in South Africa (this is particularly important because a large percentage of the population has had little exposure to scientific education at school level and therefore inadequate or bad science reporting has the potential to do harm); a serious need for journalists and editors to avoid sensationalism and triviality (particularly the use of sensational headlines); a need for a more planned, proactive approach to long-term coverage (not merely event and 'crisis' driven); the need for a comprehensive educational focus targeted at different types of readers; the need to cater for the information requirements of, as well as incorporate the 'voice' of people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and communities; and, a need for a mixture of human interest writing along with hard news and factual science reporting (as well as a balance between each type of article in publications) to cover the various aspects of the epidemic. Suggestions made to bridge the gap between current practice and a more ideal approach include: a serious need for some form of specialised, ongoing training (formal or informal) for journalists covering this field; an urgent requirement for sectoral commitment from the media sector to this unique topic through a comprehensive response which includes allowances for training and research, workplace policies for employees of media companies, and the commitment of time and space to science reporting; the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS either as writers or as expert consultants to journalists (and other trained writers); greater involvement of scientists, researchers, clinicians and health workers (through sponsored science inserts or pages, and regular science columns); and, the need for social responsibility initiatives within the newspaper industry towards assisting people living with HIV/AIDS. From their side, AIDS organisations and experts working in the field need to 'feed' accurate information and give ongoing feedback to the media in a two-way constructive partnership instead of merely critiquing the efforts of journalists. The urgency and tragedy of this epidemic in the African context calls for a heightened degree of sensitivity and responsibility from all sectors. Newspapers, specifically, as a farreaching information source, can playa vital role in assisting in the fight against this epidemic but this will require commitment (of time and money), thorough understanding of all the complexities of the issue (including all the scientific and political debates surrounding it) and the impact it has on individuals and communities, a true recognition of the importance of easily accessible, understandable information, and understanding of the importance of the press in putting and keeping HIV/AIDS on the public agenda.