Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

From the July/August issue of Global AIDSLink, published by the Global Health Council, this article discusses the launch of the Red Salud online network for tin American health journalists in 2003. It was created by the Pan American Health Organization, the Communication Initiative (through its Latin American hub), and the Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano (FNPI) to provide, as stated here, an "analytical, comprehensive, and sustainable" solution to improving HIV reporting. At the time of the writing of this article (2007) the network numbered 872 journalists who debate health issues on topics as diverse as avian influenza and alcohol use. In the area of HIV/AIDS reporting, the network addresses the need for correct data, ways to work with people living with HIV (PLHIV), and structural problems endemic to the news media, such as little time for investigating stories, limited travel budgets, and lack of interest by media owners to cover health issues, as well as media training.


According to the author, "[t]he main objective of the Red-Salud is to help journalists examine challenges and opportunities to improve health reporting and to enable them to share experiences, meet other colleagues with the same problems and find their own solutions....First, it is a peer network, with sponsoring organizations playing a facilitator rather than dictatorial or instructional role. Second, the subject of Red-Salud is strictly the process and problems of health reporting.... And third, the network is open to all health journalists, despite the fact that the initial funding came from resources dedicated to HIV." Its tools include a website, a peer-to-peer protected email tool for direct contact among members, and a display of participant names, contact information, and curriculum vitae (CVs). In addition, it promotes a number of thematic debates each year called Consejos de Redacción (Newsroom Councils) similar to moderated listserve discussions. Reference materials and analysis of media coverage are posted during these council discussions on selected themes, including, for example, the HIV epidemic, youth sexuality, drug use, patent and generic drugs, and HIV and young people.

Other tools of Red-Salud include the Latin American Health Award, in which all submissions are available on line; a weekly email update highlighting new topics posted on the front page of the website; and a once-a-month three-page newsletter with news about the network and information on grants, training, and awards on health journalism.

This document is accessible on line for members of the Global Health Council. Membership is available on the Global Health Council website.