TV news not contributing to fight against AIDS

International TV news, Jan 1, 2014 – Nov 20, 2014

December 1, 2014. New York. – Around the world, AIDS has little visibility on TV news programs, potentially hampering efforts to treat the disease and prevent transmission, according to new research from Media Tenor International.

“AIDS remains a major public health crisis and outcomes are highly dependent on access to medication,” says Racheline Maltese, a researcher at Media Tenor International. “But prevention is still key. With media coverage below the awareness threshold and often focused on the past, the media is conveying an implicit message that AIDS is not an ongoing concern.”

AIDS patients are most often visible in this coverage, whereas experts addressing AIDS have far less visibility. Negativity is high, particularly regarding women for whom AIDS is the leading cause of death in those of reproductive age.*

Other diseases are more visible than AIDS on TV news, and recent focus on Ebola has also contributed to the lack of coverage on AIDS.

“Overall, the media is missing an opportunity to engage in constructive news by helping to combat AIDS through ongoing visibility on the disease and treatment and prevention strategies,” says Maltese.

This research examined all 1,123,292 reports international TV news January 1, 2014 – November 20, 2014.

For over 20 years Media Tenor’s mission has been to contribute to objective, diverse and newsworthy media content by bringing together the diverse parties. Media Tenor’s global research projects include analyses of election campaigns, investor relations, public diplomacy, corporate communications and other topics critical to news makers and news audiences.

For more information, please contact Racheline Maltese at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 212-935-0210.

* http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2012/december/20121211womenoutloud/