BBC WST Leprosy Project - Impressing the Press

Far from being just another disease, leprosy has always been a metaphor for untouchability and social exclusion.

Decision-makers and opinion-formers are as inclined as the general public to ignore the disease.

The press launch of the BBC World Service Trust partnership with Doordarshan TV and All India Radio in New Delhi in January 2000 was attended by all the major newspapers and broadcasting organisations in India.

For the second campaign phase in June 2000, the Trust staged press conferences in the capitals of the five target states. More than 95 articles appeared in the regional English and vernacular press.

Two-day press workshops on leprosy were held in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Local journalists were then funded to undertake research on leprosy stories.

As a result, some 120 stories appeared in 40 publications.



For more information, please see The Drum Beat 133.