Media and social responsibility

In our dream to become amazing and great P.R.P's we never really realize the social responsibility that we have to educate those that we entertain. This blog is inspired by the apathy that the larger majority of the masses has on issues as dire as HIV/AIDS. This week i had a discussion with the lady i work with who related a story to me abut a lady who left her husband to be running away from a polygamous relationship only to lend up living with a man who has a wife in another province. which all sounded bizarre to me. Until the plot thickening and she told me that shes on HIV treatment. What alarmed me was the casual response she had to that and how their relationship carries on as though shes on antibiotics for a flu. this made me wonder if she knows that she can get reinfected from this same man who makes regular visits to hes wife.

We all know that we never want to make people feel as though this is a death sentence but its also a sensitive case that shouldn't be taken lightly. This then beckons the question how do we relay this message without being ignored or daubed another aids campaign. As i posed this question i did what every young person with internet access does and that was. Say it with me GOOGLE your subject. among-st the many links that spoke about Media a social week i came across this paper that highlighted these few  significant ways in which the media can play a role in reporting HIV/Aids:

  

They further highlight the significant ways in which the media can play a role in 

reporting HIV/Aids:  

• The media can generate public and policy discussion of HIV/Aids, which further 

encourages public awareness and leads to action by  political, financial, and 

other leaders. Accurate news coverage of HIV/Aids can generate public and 

political support for fighting HIV/Aids. 

• The media influence public opinion and attitudes about HIV/Aids, including 

attitudes towards people with HIV/Aids. Attitudes affect how people respond to 

HIV/Aids and how people with HIV/Aids are treated or cared for by their peers, 

employer, families, community, the health care system and the judicial system. 

• Similarly, the media influence the language used to report on HIV/Aids, which in 

turn  shapes how people think about and deal with HIV/Aids.  

• The media can also point to healthy behaviour for the prevention of HIV/Aids, 

the protection of those who are most vulnerable to HIV/Aids, and for the care of 

people affected by HIV/Aids.  

Other scholars have offered additional roles that the media can play in regard to 

HIV/Aids reporting. 

In an article in the  Canadian Journal of Communication, Emke (2000: 4)

This article actually has a lot of interesting facts about HIV/AIDS and media reporting on it. Read more here http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-08302010-094911/unrestricted/AjobolaOA.pdf. This actually made me realize that its actually the contentiousness of the people receiving. meaning we are targeting the wrong  psyche.