The National AIDS Commission (NAC) in partnership with Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) will conduct a four day media training workshop on HIV and AIDS for local media practitioners from 29 March to 01 April 2010 at Malealea Lodge.

The purpose of the media training is to ensure effective reporting on HIV and AIDS that will have maximum impact on the public. NAC is therefore engaging in this exercise to provide the media with relevant skills to improve their reporting on HIV and AIDS issues. This is a skill that was identified as inadequate through the evaluation of submissions for the Red Ribbon Media Award done over the past two years and it has also been expressed by reporters themselves in their regular meetings with NAC.

The media is an important tool in the national response to HIV and AIDS due to their leverage in reaching the masses and are therefore powerful agents in educating the nation and advocating for behaviour change amongst Basotho, through effective and positive reporting on HIV and AIDS issues.

The training will cover among other topics issues of myths and misconceptions in the media, stigma and discrimination, identifying story angles, storyline development and identifying new approaches for writing on HIV and AIDS.

Participants will be drawn from key media houses in the country.

Media Contacts:
Section Head, Advocacy & Communications— Phumla Moleko (Mrs)
Communications Officer— Mpolokeng Mpeli (Mrs)
3rd Floor Maseru Sun Hotel Office Block, Orpen Road, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
P O Box 11232, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
(+266) 22 326794 (Office—Directorate of Policy, Strategy & Communications)
58885858 (Phumla) • 63106332 (Mpolokeng) • 22 327 210 (facsimile) • molekop@nas.org.ls