Mass media and AIDS in the Bergamo area

A report on information, 1981-1990

Abstract

Ten years after the first case of HIV infection, retrospective analysis of all recorded information regarding AIDS in the area of Bergamo from 1981 to 1990 was carried out. The aim was to verify the impact of infonnation about AIDS, and to record effects on generai and medicai population as a consequence of the local publications in the area of Bergamo. Despite availability of various media (national newspapers, periodicals, radio and television) most people were found to read local newspapers, especially in outlying areas. 180 publications were evaluated, of which 71 were religious and 109 lay. Few Editorials regarded AIDS, and scarce interest was expressed by readers to have a public debate on this topic, given the very few "Letters to the Editor''. This was true for ali publications examined, which mostly report local news. Sources of information were prevalently directed to general population, which seems to be more interested in political rather than in medicai opinions. Debates and meetings on AIDS practically did't exist at a local level. The space dedicated to this topic by religious publications has been quantitatively the same aver the years, whereas 54% of lay articles about AIDS were published only in 1987. Most of these articles were found to report news of prevention and social interest, as well as epidemiological data recorded at local and regional level. From 1985 for religious and 1987 for lay publications, these reports had a favourable impact on the public, with respect to the previous negative effects. Analysis showed that scientific information was easily available for journalists, as well as the tendency to interpret the news as sensational rather than problematic.