HIV/AIDS Media Coverage in the United States: A Comparison of African American and Mainstream Magazines

• In Event: Media Representations and Designing Effective Campaign Messages

Abstract

Studies have proven media’s power to influence how people perceive an issue. Since African Americans perceive HIV/AIDS as a larger health concern than other demographics, it is important to compare media that targets them with mainstream media. HIV/AIDS discussions in black and mainstream magazine articles from 2008 were examined through a content analysis, and were found to differ in how they discussed human-interest and risk components of the disease.

Authors

• Kamilia Butler-Peres, University of Maryland, College Park

• Xiaoli Nan, University of Maryland

• Leah Waks, University of Maryland