Helping People with AIDS: Mobilizing Interventionists

Speaking from the margins: Communication strategies used in African American HIV prevention campaigns in Alabama

“…In fact, media often work to stigmatize further the issue of AIDS and those affected by presenting the syndrome in a moralistic frame (Clark, 1992;Lester, 1992;Lupton, Chapman, & Wong, 1993;McAllister, 1992;Rocheron & Linne, 1989) that reinforces negative attitudes held by the public. Such negative attitudes have been shown to limit accurate risk assessment, overall knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and willingness to interact with those affected Colasanto, Singer, & Rogers, 1992;Gozenbach & Stevenson, 1994;Hughey, 1987;Kennamer & Honnold, 1995;LePoire, 1994;Stiff et al, 1990;Stipp & Kerr, 1989). Even educational messages designed by public health officials for the general public and disseminated through mass media channels that have been shown to increase knowledge have been unable to change behavior or negative attitudes toward those affected by the syndrome (Bush & Boiler, 1991;Singer, Rogers, & Glassman, 1991;Snyder, 1991).…”