Equipping Journalists for Accurate Reporting on Avian Influenza and the H5N1 Virus in Southeast Asia

This health journalism initiative draws on face-to-face interactions that are designed to provide media personnel with experience on covering avian influenza issues. Internews has created a training curriculum that is tailored to address the specific needs of each country in which it is conducted. According to Internews, the trainings: provide access to accurate, up-to-date information on avian flu; teach safety precautions to reporters who might be exposed to contaminated areas; and seek to improve the technical skills needed to report on the emergency. Trainings are conducted in-country, with 12 to 15 journalists from print, radio, and television participating in each 3-day session. The trainings include field trips to actual outbreak sites. They cover best practices in health reporting and review materials from United Nations (UN)-sponsored avian flu awareness campaigns.

At the conclusion of the first phase of the programme, Internews produced a printed trainer's manual on how to conduct trainings on avian flu reporting. It includes basic resources for the media when trying to promote awareness and discussion about the virus. The hope is that, by using this manual and working in partnership with veterinary and public health officials, journalists will be empowered to communicate correct information about avian influenza using simple but powerful messages.

One training session was held 1 week after a reported avian flu outbreak in the north-central province of Phitsanulok, where 26 suspected human cases were being closely watched by health authorities.