Partnering with ZAMCOM to train Zambian Journalists in coverage of HIV/AIDS.

To strengthen ZAMCOM's management, administrative, and institutional capacity to organize and conduct trainings, spec~flcally on HI V/A IDS reporting. We propose a series of conference calls, augmented by an early meeting with ZAMCOM personnel in Zambia, to discuss their needs and successful approaches to journalist training. Participants would include David Greer from the Kentucky Press Association and Al Cross, Chike Anyaegbunam and Beth Barnes from the University of Kentucky. (All would participate in conference calls; a subset would visit Zambia.) We would exchange strategies used in past training workshops conducted by the Kentucky Press Association, the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, and other health journalism training institutions with our ZAMCOM counterparts. Discussion topics would include needed lead time to develop training outlines, considerations for training topics and training structure, and ideas for handling logistical considerations. In particular, we would describe and discuss the challenges to getting participation from journalists, especially those at smaller operations with limited resources. (Both KPA and IRJCI have widespread experience addressing this challenge.) The conference calls would allow discussion of the example materials provided to ZAMCOM; the site visit would give us the chance to see the available facilities, and, ideally, meet with some of the journalists who would be prospects for ZAMCOM's trainings to discuss their interests and needs and to determine any potential barriers to their participation. To assist ZAMCOM in improving and expanding skills, practical techniques, and knowledge of journalists in media and print production, promotion, and distribution. We propose a series of conference calls, one or more visits to Zambia, and collaborative preparation of an interactive training DVD and distance education website. Participants would include all Kentucky Press Association and University of Kentucky personnel involved in this project. (All would participate in conference calls; a subset would visit Zambia.) Initial conference call discussion would focus on what information, knowledge and skills journalists in various media forms need to effectively cover HTV/AIDS stories and play a major role in public health communication campaigns. What weaknesses has ZAMCOM identified in current coverage? What preparation does ZAMCOM see as needed? We would provide ZAMCOM with information on the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. journalists' coverage of HIV/AIDS and discuss what kinds of training and information transfer have been used here and in other countries where we have knowledge. Dr. Cupp from the Department of Communication would lead a discussion on the role of the mass media in public health education campaigns and what types of information readers! listeners need to help them better understand HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Professors Cross and Anyaegbunam would discuss approaches to training reporters on