Media Coverage of AIDS

I would like to commend David Shaw for his two-part series about AIDS media coverage (Part I, Dec. 20, 21). A few months ago in my history and philosophy of the mass media class at Cal State L.A., I proposed as my term project a critical study about the media’s handling (or mishandling) of the AIDS crisis and its future objectives in public health reporting. Unfortunately for me, my teacher shot down the story. He claimed there was enough written about AIDS. Besides, this story made him feel “sick.” He further stated he was glad he was married.

Considering his attitude, I felt this story was needed more than ever. So, I thank Shaw and his editors for having the moral fortitude to publish the story.

LINDA R. AGUILAR

Pico Rivera