The PSI BCC Blog

Telling the story: peer interviews and personal narrative

...And while we're on the topic of reality radio:

National Public Radio's popular StoryCorps project invites pairs of community members - friends, partners, parents and children - to record a discussion on the topic of their choice. These conversations are then edited, broadcast (in some cases), and eventually archived at the Library of Congress. This approach, which helps people reflect upon their values and behaviors and personalize realities outside their own lived experience, has interesting potential in the context of BCC interventions. Why not use peer interviews or personal narrative to complement more traditional mass media content or community-level programming, while supporting audience buy-in and normative change?

There are all kinds of potential variations: Directed (themed) conversations or open? Fixed-site recording spaces, or mobile sites (like the StoryCorps van, which travels from city to city and parks in a public area for a few days while community members record their interviews)? Interviews, or looser conversations? On-going programming, or focused activities as a lead-up to a special event like World AIDS Day?

This kind of programming, which is closely linked to radio and video diaries, blogs and vlogs, and participatory media like youth-produced radio and television, is similar to work being done by MTV/Staying Alive and Search for Common Ground, among others. Check out their websites for more information.

For more information on StoryCorps (or to listen to stories), go to: http://www.storycorps.net.

"Dear diary...": A personal approach to stigma reduction

Radio and video diaries have become an increasingly popular format for HIV communication interventions in recent years. This trend is nowhere more evident than in care and support programming, with popular, high-profile PLHA diaries being aired in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, among other countries. The diary format, which provides insight into the daily lives of PLHA and highlights the challenges associated with marginalization, treatment adherence, and positive living, helps audience members to explore norms around social inclusion of PLHA and accurately assess their own susceptibility to HIV.Diaries range from single-episode personal narratives or exposees (like MTV/Staying Alive's "Thoko's Diary", linked below) to long-running serials (like JHU/CCP's Betengna PLHA diaries, with 20+ episodes per diarist), and are often complemented by call-in shows, listeners' groups, or publicity tours. Podcasts and streaming downloads have also extended the reach of this type of programming tremendously, with some shows reporting thousands of downloads every month.

For examples of diaries and additional information on the development and implementation process, see:

Thembi's diary (radio, multiple episodes), South Africa (Joe Richman/Radio Diaries): http://www.aidsdiary.org/. Podcasts and Thembi's blog also available through the site.

Betengna PLHA diaries program (radio, multiple episodes per diarist), Ethiopia (JHU/CCP): www.etharc.org. Click on tab for Betengna Radio. Downloads available though the site. See also JHU/CCP Ethiopia's PLHA website, which includes sections for upload and search of personal stories of those living living HIV: http://www.etharc.org/plwha/story/.

Thoko's diary (video, single episode), South Africa (MTV/Staying Alive): http://www.staying-alive.org/hot/48fest_info.php.

Imagine Afrika: A reality TV show promotes a vision of a future without HIV

Imagine Afrika, a reality TV show pitting teams of African young people against each other in a competition to address some of the problems facing the continent, will soon begin its second season. The 13-episode show, which spans five African countries, highlights the experience of twelve young contestants as they work with communities to generate solutions to local problems. The show's challenges focus on factors contributing to the HIV epidemic, including poverty and struggling health services, with the goal of "demonstrating the power of personal initiative, self esteem, and leadership." Each week, audiences across Africa vote for their favorite teams, while a panel of experts score their efforts. A season finale brings together all the teams for a final challenge.

Although the show has been well received, critics have noted the difficulties of developing a pan-African product that reflects the cultural, linguistic, and epidemiological diversity of the continent.The show's creators plan to conduct an impact evaluation of the show during the coming year.

Imagine Afrika was developed by the African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS as part of its It Begins with YOU campaign, a multi-year pan-African HIV program launched in December 2006.

For more information, see www.itbeginswithyou.org/tv_show/index.html