Thai Media Managers and Editors Discuss World AIDS Day Coverage

Exerpts from the article follow:

"Twenty-five media editors and managers from Thailand's top television, print and radio outlets met on November 26, to discuss media coverage for World AIDS Day...

At the meeting, the guest speaker, Senator John Ungpakorn, HIV/AIDS and human rights advocate, urged the Thai media to be more sensitive and less discriminatory when reporting on HIV/AIDS issues.

The Senator remarked that while in the past the sex-workers and injecting drug-users in Thailand were most vulnerable to HIV infection, today women, children, youth and prisoners are among the most vulnerable groups. He asked journalists to follow up on the human stories behind the statistics, and shared ideas for looking at HIV/AIDS stories from new and positive angles...

Senator Ungpakorn spoke to the senior media managers about the need for non-stigmatizing language in their reporting and recommended the use of style guides agreed upon by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), NGOs [non-government organisations] and journalists when reporting on the epidemic..."