Media sensitivity to HIV/AIDS reporting

CEBU, Philippines – Mass media has long been recognized as an important source of information on HIV/AIDS.

In the booklet entitled “12 Steps to Understanding AIDS (For Media Practitioners) published by the AIDS Society of the Philippines,” it pointed out that media was second only to professionals and health workers as the “most credible source of information on the topic,” based on a survey carried out some years back by government and private groups.

Such credibility puts much responsibility on the media, the booklet’s Introduction section mentioned.

“The public expects journalists to provide accurate and correct information in their news reports, whatever the topic is. Journalists are moreover expected to report the truth in a responsible way. When it comes to covering HIV/AIDS matters, there is a special challenge for media practitioners because of the relative “newness” still of the pandemic and its peculiarities.

In a way, it further stated, reporting on HIV/AIDS is comparable to reporting on subject areas which have a special language but which must be presented to non-specialists in an understandable way.

“Journalists who report on the courts, for instance, must be familiar with legal terms and procedures which they must then “translate” for the public. Those in the business beat need a working knowledge of business and economics but must prepare reports which are in layman’s terms,” this was pointed out.

Appropriate HIV/AIDS terminology Words and phrases may convey connotations in addition to the literal meaning.

Discussion of HIV and related issues is often fraught with tension because of the taboos and prejudices that lie beneath the surface of cultures. Careful use of language helps avoid reinforcing prejudice and clarifies essential issues of human rights and dignity that are so often early casualties in reporting HIV/AIDS and related issues.

It is the United Nations Development Program HIV language policy to use:

• “Person with HIV”, not “person with AIDS” unless it is used to describe the medical conditions which conform to the current case definition of clinical disease. A person either has or does not have a diagnosis of AIDS.

• Terms such as “full-blown AIDS” and “pre-AIDS condition” are inaccurate.

• “People living with HIV infection”, not “HIV-infected” or “HIV or virus carriers” because the emphasis should be on the people and not on the virus or the infection.

• “People living with AIDS”, not “AIDS victims” or “AIDS sufferers” because the emphasis should be on the people and not the medical condition. Furthermore, the terms “victim” and “sufferer” suggest powerlessness.

• “Living with AIDS”, not “dying with AIDS” as it stresses the fact that a person continues to participate in life’s activities.

• “Men who have sex with men”, not “homosexual”, “bisexual”, or “gay” because many men who have sex with men do not identify themselves as homosexual, etcetera. It is also inappropriate to label people by virtue of their sexual orientation.

• “Women who have sex with women”, not “lesbians” because many women who have sex with women do not identify themselves as lesbians. It is also inappropriate to label people by virtue of their gender preference.

• “Commercial sex worker”, not “prostitute”, as this is the term used by women who do this work. The nature of “prostitution” differs from country to country and from culture to culture. The term “sex worker” is inadequate because some sex workers operate for money and some “non-commercial sex workers” operate for security.

• “Person with hemophilia”, not “hemophiliac” because a person should not be identified by his/her disease.

• “Us”, not “them”, as all of us are living within the epidemic.

• “Living in poverty”, not “poverty stricken.” Poverty stricken implies powerless-ness and an inability to be anything else.

• “The population”, not “the general population,” “the heterosexual majority”, “normal people”, etcetera because everyone is part of the population and no one should be excluded or isolated because of sexual orientation or behavior.

• “Risk behaviors”, not “risk groups.” In the context of the HIV pandemic, it is the behavior that places one at risk of HIV infection rather than one’s affiliation with a group.

• “Children living in families affected by HIV”, not “orphans”, “AIDS orphans”, or “children orphaned by AIDS.” Orphan means different things in different countries. In African countries, it often means a child who has lost one parent. Orphan also implies helplessness and can be demeaning.

• “Working for life”, not “fighting against AIDS” because the use of combative or military language does not encourage an attitude of caring.

• “Person”, not “AIDS patient.” AIDS patient describes the person by his/her medical condition and a patient is not a person but someone reliant on a doctor.

• “Babies with HIV infection”, not “innocent babies” because this suggests that someone else is guilty or has gotten the infection deliberately. (FREEMAN)