This new self-study guide helps lay the foundation for civil society advocates to become citizen journalists speaking out against injustice and helping to shape the world they want to live in.
Citizen journalists are playing an increasingly important role reporting on sensitive issues, such as HIV, particularly in countries where free speech and media access is limited.
A new training guide published today by the Key Correspondents network, helps citizen journalists around the world increase their impact in giving a local perspective on national and international issues on sexual and reproductive health, and human rights.
Enrique Restoy, senior advisor on human rights at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, said: “The opportunities for citizens to bear witness to injustice, document issues and report them to local and global audiences are unparalleled in today’s digital world and this publication couldn’t be more timely.
“Although the response to HIV has seen massive progress in many places around the world in the last twenty years, we also see HIV services being denied to certain population groups in numerous countries. The rights of people living with HIV and people at higher risk of HIV are under increasing threat.
“Recent changes in law in Nigeria and India have sent a devastating signal to citizens, including people who work in public services, implying it is okay to discriminate and stigmatise people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Reporting on health and human rights
Change the world is a self-study guide that helps lay the foundation for civil society advocates to become citizen journalists speaking out against injustice and helping to shape the world they want to live in. It can be downloaded from the Key Correspondents’ journalist toolkit.
The guide contains chapters that focus specifically on reporting on HIV, and reproductive health and rights, but also provides general guidance on writing news stories, pitching to media, blogging, social media and photography.
It brings together journalism skills and advocacy goals to help citizens share their perspectives and experiences with decision makers and wider audiences to influence the discourse around the issues that matter to them.
Key Correspondents recruitment
The Key Correspondents network is currently recruiting young people who are living with HIV and/or young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The network is particularly keen to hear from young people living in Bangladesh, Burundi, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Uganda.
To apply, complete the online application form
COMMENTS
Thanks Sarah, I have just received the toolkit.
Great! Hope it’s useful 😉