COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

Media is a powerful tool in changing people''s behaviour and thinking. It can therefore be used to save the lives of young people who are increasingly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Community media is deemed as the most accessible type of media that reaches young people in phenomenal ways through its content and ease of accessibility.Its importance cannot be underestimated in the fight against HIV/AIDS as an important media tool for disseminating critical information, especially to young people. To be effective as a tool, community newspapers regularly need to dedicate a column to HIV/AIDS to influence young people in making informed choices about their reproductive health.