PHA-Exchange> UNAIDS Press Release: Global Media AIDS Initiative

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>
UNAIDS Press Release: Global Media AIDS Initiative

FIRST-EVER GLOBAL HIV/AIDS CREATIVE MEETING AT THE UNITED NATIONS BRINGS
TOGETHER CREATIVE EXPERTS FROM 35 MEDIA COMPANIES

Historic Gathering Builds on Efforts of Global Media AIDS Initiative

New York, 23 November 2004—Today, more than 100 creative and programming
directors from 35 media companies, leading media figures and non-government
organizations from around the world are meeting at the United Nations
Headquarters to exchange ideas on how to incorporate HIV/AIDS messages into
short- and long form programming.

This first-ever global creative meeting on HIV/AIDS builds on the efforts of
the Global Media AIDS Initiative, launched in January 2004 by the United
Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and was organized by Viacom, MTV
Networks International, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Joint United
Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS), and the United Nations Department of
Information (UNDPI).  The meeting is also being supported by the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and The International Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences (IATAS).

Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, said, “The creative community has
the power to shape behaviors of individuals and set positive lifestyle
trends for communities. This coming together of the world’s best creative
minds to focus on AIDS is a significant boost in the response to AIDS.
Getting to the hearts and minds of people is key to stopping AIDS.”

About The Global Creative Meeting

The global creative meeting’s day-long program includes sessions led by
advertising, programming and communications experts addressing a wide range
of issues related to the epidemic, including stigma and discrimination,
youth outreach, broadbased partnership coalitions, and short- and long-form
programming development.

___________________________________________________________________
For more information, please contact Mahesh Mahalingam, UNAIDS  email:
maheshm at unaids.org
Website:
http://www.unaids.org/NetTools/Misc/DocInfo.aspx?LANG=en&href=http%3a%2f%2fg