Could you write for aidsmap?

Over the past few couple of years we have been supporting new writers to develop their skills and would like to hear from others who would be interested in joining us.

We’re inviting new applications to our Emerging Voices programme. It aims to give new writers opportunities to develop their skills in a professional and supportive environment. Successful candidates will help our staff to write, update and edit information and articles on aidsmap, including news articles, email bulletins and factsheets. We offer support and coaching, and pay for published work.

This will help us increase the size and diversity of NAM’s editorial team, so as to better reflect those communities with the highest HIV prevalence. We are keen to hear from Black, ethnic minority, trans and young people – all groups which are currently under-represented in scientific writing. As the past year has shown us that we can collaborate effectively online, we accept applications from people in all parts of the world.

Glossary

middle income countries

The World Bank classifies countries according to their income: low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high. There are around 50 lower-middle income countries (mostly in Africa and Asia) and around 60 upper-middle income countries (in Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean).

comorbidity

The presence of one or more additional health conditions at the same time as a primary condition (such as HIV).

cure

To eliminate a disease or a condition in an individual, or to fully restore health. A cure for HIV infection is one of the ultimate long-term goals of research today. It refers to a strategy or strategies that would eliminate HIV from a person’s body, or permanently control the virus and render it unable to cause disease. A ‘sterilising’ cure would completely eliminate the virus. A ‘functional’ cure would suppress HIV viral load, keeping it below the level of detection without the use of ART. The virus would not be eliminated from the body but would be effectively controlled and prevented from causing any illness.

low income countries

The World Bank classifies countries according to their income: low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high. While the majority of the approximately 30 countries that are ranked as low income are in sub-Saharan Africa, many African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia are in the middle-income brackets.

transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

While we welcome applications from people with a range of skills and interests, we’d particularly like to receive applications from people who can help us fill two important gaps in our current team.

Firstly, we’d like to involve more people with strong connections to communities affected by HIV in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. If you want to use your writing to draw attention to HIV treatment and prevention issues in low- and middle-income countries, please get in touch.

Secondly, we’d like to recruit people who are specifically interested in writing about antiretrovirals, co-morbidities and other medical issues for people with HIV. Equally, we’d be pleased to hear from people who’d like to report on research towards a vaccine or a cure. Social and prevention issues are already quite well covered in our team, but we would like to engage new writers with more of a scientific focus.

Would you like to join the programme? The current wave of recruitment to Emerging Voices closes on 5 July (applications by 9am GMT please). If you are interested, please download and complete the application form and send it to info@nam.org.uk.

HIV news from aidsmap.com