P02.05
Background: Health science journalists routinely focus on ‘event reporting’ news and seldom get opportunity to dwell deep into health science research, understand science as it moves ahead. Media owners also are reluctant to invest in opportunities that further understanding of their health science journalists and editors.
Methods: CNS supported by its partner Microbicides Society of India (MSI) worked with CNS Correspondents team and identified those interested in HIV prevention research and/or were based in countries where HIV prevention research is moving forward. CNS Annual Health Fellowship programme organized audio/video calls with CNS Fellows every month on specific health science research issues and Fellows interviewed in-country experts and regional/global experts to develop in-depth news feature articles to keep readers abreast of progress on HIV prevention research. CNS Correspondents and Fellows also joined AVAC or IRMA webinars whenever appropriate to further their own understanding on key developments in HIV prevention science. CNS also supported its correspondents to go to HIV or other related conferences in countries, regions or globally to do key informant interviews with scientists who were doing HIV prevention research, other advocates, trial participants, among others and develop these news feature articles published and syndicated through CNS.
Results: Over 100 HIV prevention research scientists, advocates, trial participants were interviewed by CNS Correspondents during 2012–2014 and articles got published and syndicated by CNS to online and print media in Asian and African nations. These news feature articles were also disseminated through social media platforms, conference websites, official conference newspapers, among others.
Conclusions: - important for media house owners to invest in opportunities for health science journalists to understand scientific research and follow it consistently, and
- important for media to be involved as key partners of HIV prevention research.
