Stop TB Partnership

Panos connects journalists and TB researchers in Zambia

8 September 2011 - London - A new case study launched by Panos London shows that media coverage of tuberculosis (TB) in Zambia can be improved by bringing journalists and researchers together to tackle the misconceptions and awareness around the disease.

The case study ‘Reporting health research: Connecting journalists and TB researchers in Zambia’, shares some of the outcomes and lessons learned from a joint initiative between Panos London’s Relay programme and TARGETS, a research programme consortium.

The initiative brought together journalists, editors and health researchers to discuss the barriers to reporting and promoting public debate on TB. The group tackled key issues through workshops such as stigma around TB transmission, lack of access to reliable information for journalists and limited support from editors for health stories. Health researchers then acted as expert advisors to journalists who produced a series of national newspaper articles and radio programmes on both national and community radio.

Zambia has been reported as having the 10th highest TB incidence rate in the world (193 cases per 100,000 members of the population) and one of the highest rates of HIV infection in Africa, at 15% according to the United States Agency for International Development. Misconceptions about the disease transmission and the link between TB and HIV infection has fuelled social stigma which can make people reluctant to disclose their status and less likely to seek treatment.

The workshops revealed that there is mistrust and fear between journalists and researchers. For example, at the start of the discussions, journalists described researchers as being ‘inaccessible’ and having ‘intellectual arrogance.’ Similarly, researchers complained that journalists were ‘misrepresenting’ the facts and being ‘pushy.’ By the end of the workshop they recognised that there is real value in each other’s expertise and it was mutually beneficial for them to work together.

Emmanuel Mulenga, a participating journalist, said: "The workshop brought people together to start working together and move forward."

Relay’s programme manager, Annie Hoban said: "There have already been great outcomes through this initiative. Four articles and five radio programmes were produced as a result, reaching more than 500,000 people combined. This case study shows a great deal can be achieved when journalists and researchers work together, and it’s an approach which can be applied to public health reporting in general."

The Relay programme brings researchers and journalists together to improve media coverage of critical development issues. We equip journalists to draw on the knowledge and skills of researchers when reporting on development issues. And we support researchers to engage with the media to help research findings contribute to public knowledge and policy debates. Relay is coordinated by Panos London and implemented in partnership with Panos Network institutes, including Panos Eastern Africa and Panos South Asia and we also form partnerships with research consortia. For more information about the Relay programme please visit: http://panosrelay.org.uk/

"Reporting health research: Connecting journalists and TB researchers in Zambia", is available to download from the Panos London’s Relay programme website http://panosrelay.org.uk/learning-impact/reporting-health-research/