It has selected its ten HIV/AIDS Investigative Reporting Fellows to receive advanced training and coaching to produce innovative, high-quality investigative reporting on the complex, underreported issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, reflecting women's voices and concerns.
Started in 2011, the 2011 and 2012 fellows have produced more than 70 investigative pieces on a spectrum of issues including drugs that can prevent HIV in rape victims, Muslim attitudes toward HIV, babies contracting HIV from surrogate feeding, shortage of antiretroviral drugs in South Africa, traditional medicines and medical male circumcision.
"We are proud of our work with talented journalists in South Africa. Helping each of them bring new perspectives to the national conversation on HIV/AIDS has resulted in tangible, positive change. We have no doubt that the new 2013 fellows will teach us even more, reporting on progress, setbacks and the personal cost of the disease for families and communities," said IWMF executive director, Elisa Lees Muñoz.
The nine women and one man that make up the 2013 fellows represent a diverse mix of media outlets from different South African regions:
South Africa is believed to have more people infected with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world. Yet, mainstream media coverage of the pandemic has been characterised by a lack of urgency, failure to examine the reasons behind stigma and denial and inadequate engagement with people living with the disease.
For more, go to www.iwmf.org/aids.
