Key Correspondents

The Alliance hosts a citizen journalism programme called Key Correspondents (KCs). The KC team is a vibrant network of more than 250 community-based writers from more than 50 countries.

They come from a variety of backgrounds related to HIV, health and development, uniting to ‘speak their world’ and give a voice to the voiceless.

A large number of KCs represent people who are affected by and living with HIV. They help document local realities, ensuring those who are not able to tell their stories have a way to be heard. Their aim is to connect with policy makers and key stakeholders to advocate for social and policy change.

The management and coordination of the Key Correspondents programme was transferred to the Alliance in June 2009. The Alliance has continued to build capacity in writing skills and analysis through training workshops and long-distance mentoring.

The Alliance also supports the publishing of KC articles via both online and offline media, the Alliance website and through eForums. This increases exposure of local content, facilitates dialogue, and helps monitor TB and HIV commitments made by governments and other high level policy making mechanisms.

In 2010, the Alliance aims to work with other media organisations to incorporate multimedia production – such as photography, video and radio – in order to engage the most marginalised groups who may lack literacy skills, be unable to access the internet or live in remote areas.

For information about the Key Correspondents and to read their articles visit keycorrespondents.org.