Media
Media development action with informed and engaged societies
Media
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 22 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Malaria and the Media - Sub-Saharan Africa

0 comments
This programme aims to promote malaria as a newsworthy topic among those working in the media at all levels and to improve policy and practice concerning the depiction of malaria in the print and broadcasting media in Western and South Eastern Africa. By creating an advocacy packet and fostering networks (especially through face-to-face gatherings), collaborators - the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) and the Commonwealth Print Union - hope to increase the quality of reporting and programming and to provide audiences with accurate, relevant, interesting, entertaining, and educational information that will help them make healthier choices with respect to malaria control.
Communication Strategies

The project uses print and broadcasting media, and electronic and face-to-face communication. This includes newspaper and magazine stories and feature articles, as well as television and radio news, magazine programmes, and other broadcast genres.


The programme has 2 components. The first is a malaria advocacy package aimed at chief executive officers and owners of media organisations and relevant government ministers in African countries. A Pan African Broadcasting and Health Conference was also held in September 2003 to establish a dialogue between senior broadcasters and health professionals and researchers.


The second part of the programme involved a 5-day training workshop for print and broadcast journalists. Held in Tanzania, the workshop was designed to engage journalists in strategic reporting on malaria as well as to foster long-term professional networks between journalists, health professionals, and researchers. Other workshops are planned for Malawi and the Gambia.


Conferences and seminars were held for senior media people and government ministers. A face-to-face training workshop was held for print and broadcast journalists. An electronic discussion list facilitates discussion on malaria issues and professional networking. A health and media website, which is in development, will provide access to resources on health for journalists and augment communication.

Development Issues

Malaria.

Key Points

The mobilisation of the media to join the fight against malaria is consistent with strategies outlined in many African nations' National Malaria Control Strategic plans, particularly Tanzania's National Malaria Medium Term Strategic Plan (TNMMTP). This plan outlines the importance of advocacy, sensitisation, and the use of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to promote and influence positive health behaviour and social change.

Partners

Gates Malaria Partnership, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, Commonwealth Print Union, African print and broadcast media agencies, and Tanzania NMCP.

Sources

Letter sent from Angela Dawson to the Communication Initiative on November 7 2003.