"For journalists, coverage of the Ebola epidemic offers vital lessons that could help the media industry deliver a more public-interest oriented service geared towards combating the spread the disease. It is these lessons that have helped shape the following guidelines. The guidelines have been gleaned and compiled from the numerous articles, discussion forums, guidelines for health personnel, interventions by governments and nongovernmental organisations, advisories for media associations in the affected countries, and anecdotes by journalists in the front lines of the epidemic. In November 2014, the African Media Initiative convened a Consultative Forum of Media Strategies in Nairobi, Kenya. The ensuing discussions helped illuminate other critical concerns and gaps associated with coverage of infectious diseases. These guidelines attempt as well to address those gaps. They are by no means intended as the last word on how best to cover outbreaks of infectious diseases but should be seen as the starting point of an effort to create greater awareness in the realm of journalism to help improve its service to the public." (Page 5)