Journalists Say The Darndest Things…
5 Aug
From AIDS2008.com.
I’m in the media center here at the International AIDS Conference. Listening to a couple US reporters sitting very close to me, banter about the conference and Mexico City in general, one woman, was talking about writing a “quirky condoms story” about condoms being given out with tequila shots somewhere in Mexico City.
Isn’t that so quaint?
In another attempt at humor I suppose, she says half-giggling, “Wouldn’t it be ironic if someone contracted HIV at the International AIDS Conference?”
And there is any wonder why the US reporting on the HIV epidemic is shallow at best, and damaging to the cause at worst?
So did you call the reporter out on it or did you just keep to yourself?
Of course, the US reporting of HIV/AIDS is shallow (and probably pedantic). It was first seen as a gay disease and now is seen as a gay and/or minority disease. As long as it isn’t affecting (infecting) the straight community, why should the US media which caters to a mostly straight, white audience care?
Read Susan Sontag’s AIDS and Its Metaphors.
Hey Micah-
No I didn’t call her out.