MENTORS GROOM SCRIBES: HIV story gets fresh push

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu

THE National Aids Council (Nac) has launched a mentorship drive for journalists to sharpen HIV and Aids reporting and keep the story alive in newsrooms.

The programme, which kicked off on 1 September in Gweru, saw more than 20 reporters gather for training under the guidance of veteran scribes with years of experience in HIV coverage. The mentorship will not end in the conference room, with trainees set to hit rural Midlands districts for a four-day practical exercise.

Nac says the idea is to create a new crop of reporters who can dig deeper, package stories better and push fresh angles that sell the HIV story.

Veteran journalist Barnabas Thondhlana told participants that the future of HIV coverage depends on creativity and persistence.

“We want journalists to come up with new and innovative ways to report on HIV and ensure that the HIV story sells. Experienced reporters have been picked to mentor promising journalists so that we always have a new breed ready to carry the baton in telling the HIV story,” he said.

He urged reporters to avoid shallow, event-driven coverage and instead search for powerful community stories backed by solid research and multiple sources.

The mentorship programme will continue beyond the initial training, with more journalists expected to be roped in as Nac strengthens the HIV media response across the country.