They released the second edition of the “Mediosysida” award for young journalists.

Spain, 2011-September The community network on HIV/AIDS in the State Spanish (REDVIH) announces the II Mediosysida Award for young journalists ”, in order to recognize and promote professional practices of the journalists under the age of 35 whose work will contribute to improving the social image of HIV in the media in Spain.

The launch of the second edition of the award coincides with the publication of the first journalistic note on HIV for 30 years, on June 5, 1981. The article appeared in the American newspaper Los Angeles Times, under the headline: are studied cases of pneumonia in gay men ”. Three decades have passed since then and the media have experienced an evolution in the treatment of information about HIV. The lack of information from the start of the pandemic has given way to a more rigorous information but still dragging on some occasions, prejudices, stigma and discrimination or simplification that day marked the information about HIV.

Realizing that even today still detecting incorrect terminology, prejudices and discrimination towards people living with HIV in some newspaper reports, the Mediosysida project is working to change the social image of HIV along with journalists and NGOs with the aim of improving the quality of life of persons ”, says Maria UrreroCoordinator of the project, which adds that with the award for young journalists, Mediosysida wants to encourage and recognize good journalistic practices in this area ”. In addition, explains increasingly more information professionals are joining this initiative and make a journalistic treatment with fewer prejudices towards people with HIV ”.

Isabel f. Lantigua, winner of the first edition of the prize, explains that her, for “rather than a personal recognition – that also, and done much illusion-I see this as a recognition to all those affected by HIV that they agree to tell us your story and thus contribute to put a face to the AIDS and normalize the disease ”.” “And continues, without them, without their testimonies, which are those who actually reach the people, the media could do little”. Isabel, editor of El Mundo, won the Mediosysida Award for his piece physical change, main fear of women with HIV ” last year.

Endowed with € 1,000, this award seeks to encourage young journalists about HIV that takes into account aspects such as the use of a correct language and non-discriminatory; the plurality of views and sources; the capacity for reflection and the gender approach. Competition parts can be about any topic of HIV (prevention, care and treatment, social situation, human rights, feminization of the epidemic, stigma and discrimination, labour problems, visibility of people living with HIV, international cooperation, etc.).

The second edition of this award pioneer in Spain, with the support of journalists specialized in HIV, activists, members of the University level, the National Plan on AIDS, the Ajuntament de Barcelona and private as Gilead and MSD, distinguish the best piece on HIV that has been published in a newspaper or magazine printed or digital; either by a radio or television of the Spanish State during 2010, and has addressed the public in general.

Characteristics of the prize:

-The deadline for nominations is 8/09/2011

– awarded to the best work published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2010, through radio, television or print or digital press for a medium of the State Spanish.

-each contestant may submit a maximum of three pieces in any language Spanish State (Catalan, Valencian, gallego, euskera – with Spanish translation).

– in the case of pieces of collective elaboration, may participate where, as a minimum, 50% of the authors are under the age of 35 was developed when the journalistic material.

-the participants have to fill out the form located here.

-It is possible to propose pieces of other authors for the contest, prior information and permission from the author of the work. The formula to participate will be contacting Mediosysida to carry out the proposal, being the author of the piece ultimately responsible for filling out the form.

– will be granted a single prize among all the nominations, endowed with £ 1,000 and a recognition

– the jury’s decision will be made public on October 17 in the website of Mediosysida.

-the jury is composed of 1 Member of the associative field, 3 journalists of prestige and 1 member of the University Academy.

This award has the collaboration of Mediosysida is funded by: Ministry of health and Social policy – national AIDS Plan, Ajuntament of Barcelona and MSD.

what is Mediosysida.org? A media resource centre and a meeting point for online for NGOs and professionals from the information in the Spanish State. It is a project of the Red2002, created in 2002 in Barcelona during the celebration in this city of the 14th International AIDS Conference.

If you are a journalist: Mediosysida provides you faster diversity of sources of information, specialists and documentation to develop material written, visual or online on topics related to HIV/AIDS.

If you are NGOs: Mediosysida is an informative tool of your messages, activities and demands, and you also supports the creation and dissemination of notes and announcements of press between the mass media ” through our website and an extensive database of media in the Spanish State. It also offers workshops in communication strategies to the members of the community associations.