Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
THE National Aids Council (Nac) has rolled out a mentorship programme for media practitioners as a way of strengthening HIV response in the country.
The programme, which kicked off on Monday will see seasoned journalists with experience in HIV and Aids reporting mentor fellow journalists who have a keen interest in HIV-related reporting.
Over 20 reporters from various media houses converged at a hotel in Gweru for a workshop to mark the start of the mentorship programme.
From there, the team will proceed to rural districts in Midlands Province for a four-day practical training.
The mentorship programme will extend beyond the training programme, as there will also be continued mentorship of the mentees. More mentees will be identified who will also undergo training on reporting HIV and Aids issues.
Addressing media practitioners, veteran journalist Barnabas Thondhlana said the mentorship programme will ensure continuity and growth in reporting HIV and Aids related issues.
“We want journalists to come up with new and innovative ways to report on HIV and ensure that the HIV story sells. We have reporters with experience in reporting on HIV issues and we have selected them to be mentors to promising reporters. This way, we will ensure that we always have a new breed of journalists who will be ready to carry on the baton stick in telling the HIV story.
“During the mentorship, we want reporters to be equipped with skills on how to identify unique stories, how to package the stories and multi-source their stories for balance. We also want reporters to conduct thorough research as they work on their stories,” he said.
Thondhlana said journalists are also encouraged to be inquisitive and search for stories in the communities rather than rely on event-based stories.
@DubeMatutu
