In spite of the sophistication of the Egyptian press in reporting women's issues, the coverage of reproductive health issues remain to be poor in quality and limited in quantity with minimum use of concrete research findings. This intervention communication project was designed to increase the coverage of reproductive health issues in the Egyptian Arabic newspapers and magazines. A network of print health editors and heads of women's pages of daily and weekly newspapers and magazines in Egypt was formed based on their previous coverage of these issues and their commitment to continue covering such topics. Every two months a roundtable discussion was organized during the period of May 1999 to February 2000 on issues such as youth, menopause, and safe motherhood. The project evaluation showed that the quality and quantity of reproductive health related articles improved especially around the time of the roundtables. Clipping of an average of 35 articles was collected monthly of the entire public newspapers and magazines published in Egypt.Of which, around 15% to 20% were contributed to the project efforts. Reporters of these articles used multiple sources of information and referred to varying national and specific research studies. Other findings of the project show that the space devoted to covering these issues increased whether in newspapers or magazines when compared to pre-intervention phase. Plans to scale up this project are now underway to include larger regional journalists' network from the Arab World as well as broadcasting journalists.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe a model of media advocacy of reproductive health issues in the Egyptian press. 2. Identify key evaluation procedures for measuring the effect of this intervention 3. Outline the major findings of this intervention and the follow up steps
Keywords: Media Advocacy, Communication Effects
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Population Council and Futures Group Int
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.