Armenian Media Mark World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day was recognized in Armenia on December 1 with a new newspaper supplement produced by IREX in cooperation with six national and international organizations in Armenia that focus on health, including AIDS education and prevention. The supplement, “This Month,” covered topics ranging from Armenia’s controversial “cure” for HIV to sexual education and the importance of being tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

With a print run of 31,000 copies, the eight-page supplement was distributed in cooperation with 10 regional and national newspapers, and was made available on nine websites. In addition, it was distributed at universities around Yerevan, and at a walkathon in the capital that was aimed at raising awareness about the disease.

In October, IREX hosted a two-day advanced training session covering healthcare issues. Journalists from 13 print-media outlets around the country participated. IREX partnered with various healthcare organizations—including the Armenian National AIDS Centre, Innovations in Support of Reproductive Health (NOVA), The Primary Healthcare Reform Project (PHCR), the Red Cross, Hope and Help, and the Scientific Association of Medical Students of Armenia (SAMSA)—to develop and present the training sessions.

Throughout the symposium various speakers made presentations and conducted interactive exercises that provided participants with perspectives and information on healthcare topics, and on the activities undertaken by their organizations. At the end of the training session, the journalists developed story ideas for the AIDS supplement.

“This Month” is one in a series of supplements produced by IREX and multiple partner organizations as part of the USAID-supported CORE Media Support Program Armenia (CMSPA.) The next supplement in early 2009 will cover socio-economic issues.

The primary mission of CMSPA is to foster self sustainability in the Armenian media sector. The main element of the program is designed to assist commercially viable targeted independent media outlets through the provision of loans. However the CMSP also includes elements that contribute to the professional development of the targeted media outlets.