HIV Media Guide

Ethics and principles for HIV reporting

The Media Alliance Code of Ethics sets out standards by which journalists can assess their reportage:

Respect for truth and the public’s right to information  are fundamental principles of journalism. Journalists describe society to itself. They convey information, ideas and opinions, a privileged role. They search,disclose, record, question, entertain, suggest and remember. They inform citizens and animate democracy. They give a practical form to freedom of expression. Many journalists work in private enterprise, but all have these public responsibilities. They scrutinise power, but also exercise it, and should be accountable. Accountability engenders trust. Without trust, journalists do not fulfil their public responsibilities. Alliance members engaged in journalism commit themselves to:

• Honesty
• Fairness
• Independence
• Respect for the rights of others

The South African Media AIDS website includes a set of principles for reporting on HIV. These principles are equally applicable for journalists in Australia:

1. Accuracy is critical, since important  personal and policy decisions may be influenced by media reports. Journalists should be particularly careful to get scientific and statistical information right. Facts should be painstakingly checked, using credible sources to interpret information, verify facts and make statistics and science accessible and relevant to wide  audiences. Sources should be named as often as possible. Stories should be written in context.
2. Misconceptions should  be debunked, and  any  claims  of cures or treatments should be reported with due care. Journalists should look at all stories critically.
3. Clarity means being prepared to discuss sex, cultural  practices and other sensitive issues respectfully but openly. Care should be taken to ensure language, cultural norms and traditional practices relating to, for example, inheritance and sex are understood and accurately reported.
4. Balance means giving due weight to the story, and covering all aspects, including medical, social, political, economic, and other issues. Balance also means highlighting positive stories where appropriate, without underplaying the fact that HIV and AIDS is a serious crisis.
5. Journalists should hold all decision makers to account in their handling of the pandemic, from government to the pharmaceutical industry and advocacy groups. They should be engaged with, but not captive to, any interest group.
6. Journalists should ensure that the voices and images of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS are heard and seen (with  each person’s consent). The human face of the pandemic should be shown. They should take care that the voices heard are diverse, and include those of women and men, vulnerable and marginalised people.
7.  Journalists should respect the rights of people with HIV and AIDS. Vulnerable people should be treated with particular care. Journalists should seek informed consent before intruding on anyone’s privacy. They should seek to understand the possible consequences for individuals who participate in their report, and to ensure those individuals are clear about the consequences. Only in cases of overwhelming public interest can somebody’s HIV status be reported against their wishes.
8. Particular care should be taken in dealing with children. They experience the most extreme consequences of the epidemic, and their rights to privacy should be afforded even greater protection. They should only be identified if the public interest is overwhelming, and then only if no harm to them is foreseeable and they and any parents or guardians have given informed consent. Children have the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives. They also have the right to be heard, and journalists should ensure that the particular concerns they face are covered.
9. Discrimination, prejudice and stigma are very harmful, and journalists should avoid fuelling them. Particular care should be taken not to use language or images that reinforce stereotypes.