Report: SA media pay little attention to Aids

[dArKeR]

Helmo Preuss | Johannesburg, South Africa

There is a growing danger that Aids is dropping off the South African media screen, an analysis by Media Tenor, the Institute for Media Analysis in Pretoria, showed.

In terms of coverage of major topics, Aids receives only 0,1% more airtime or column inches than environmental issues, clearly showing that South African media have lost their focus on this issue.

"In Africa the social, economic and political impact of Aids is profound. The media has a crucial role to play in the fight against the disease, but a major concern is that journalists do not have sufficient knowledge about the disease itself and its public policies," said Media Tenor managing director Wadim Schreiner.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=67649