REASON FOR SELECTION: First major public figure known to have died of AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Former matinee idol Rock Hudson died of AIDS only a few months after it was disclosed that he was suffering from the disease. Like many gay movie stars of his era, his sexual orientation was kept secret from the public during his film career.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 53 stories, below average to average for a Major Event Week (USA Today and regional newspapers not in 1985 database).

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: Three front page stories made reference to AIDS. Two lead stories were run on network television news, about average for a Major Event Week.

COMMENTS: Timing probably reduced the amount of AIDS coverage. All three major network's anchors were based in Paris to report on a French-Soviet summit. Later in the week, the hijacking of the Italian liner Achille Lauro occurred, one of the top news stories of the year.

REASON FOR SELECTION: Dramatic case of public anxiety concerning AIDS leading to violence.

BACKGROUND: A family in Arcadia, Florida, were burned out of their home by arsonists seeking to keep the their AIDS-afflicted sons out of the local school system. Three young brothers in the Ray family, all hemophiliacs who were infected with the AIDS virus but showed no symptoms, had been barred from school in 1986. But a federal judge ordered them readmitted for the fall 1987 term. The youths returned to school four days prior to this incident.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 56 stories, below average to average for a Major Event Week (USA Today and regional newspapers not in 1987 database).

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: Four front page newspaper stories about AIDS but no lead stories on network TV news.

COMMENTS: A print story with more researched Backgrounders than News Event coverage (39% vs. 32%). Only three of 10 AIDS stories run on network news appeared in the top third of the broadcast.

REASON FOR SELECTION: At the time he died, Ryan White was this country's best-known victim of AIDS as a result of a non-sexual transmission.

BACKGROUND: Ryan White contracted AIDS through a blood product used to treat his hemophilia. The public had become familiar with the Indiana teenager's case several years before when his fight to be allowed to attend public school attracted wide media attention.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 55 stories, below average for a Major Event Week.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES:. Four front page newspaper stories about AIDS and three lead stories on network TV news. Only Magic Johnson Week I was played more prominently by the networks.

COMMENTS: Primarily a human interest story. Half (50%) of the total stories made only a brief mention of AIDS. This personality-driven story was a natural for television.

REASON FOR SELECTION: This dramatic case raised the controversial issue of AIDS testing for health care professionals.

BACKGROUND: While Kimberly Bergalis lay dying of AIDS, her letter to the American Medical Association requesting mandatory testing of health care workers was made public at the group's annual meeting. The young Florida woman had contracted AIDS from her dentist. Her case had received its first wave of publicity when she testified before Congress on this same issue.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 77 stories, about average for a Major Event Week.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: AIDS coverage was prominent in newspapers with 4 front page stories. But there were no lead stories on network TV news.

COMMENTS: One of the Major Events least likely to command high profile broadcast coverage; only two of nine stories in the top third of the broadcast.

REASON FOR SELECTION: First major public figure not in a higher-risk group to announce his HIV-positive status and to attribute it to heterosexual activity; and first major professional athlete to leave his sport because of AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Earvin (Magic) Johnson, three times voted the NBA's most valuable player, announced that he had tested HIV-positive and was retiring from pro basketball on the advice of his doctors. At his press conference, Johnson made an appeal to young people to practice safe sex or abstain from sex outside of marriage.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 259 stories, more than double the number for any other Major Event Week.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: 18 front page stories; no other Major Event Week had more than 7. Produced more lead stories on network TV news (8) than all other Major Events combined (6).

COMMENTS: The top-AIDS related news story to-date. Brought AIDS coverage to the sports pages, where the topic had been only rarely mentioned previously.

REASON FOR SELECTION: Ashe's death had an impact around the world. His achievements went beyond the tennis court. Widely respected and outspoken on racial issues, Ashe also gained fame as a political activist and social commentator.

BACKGROUND: Former tennis great Arthur Ashe died of AIDS less than a year after he revealed he had contracted the virus (April 1992). Ashe believed he contracted the disease from a blood transfusion during a surgical procedure in 1983. He had attempted to keep his condition private since learning about it in 1988, but came forward when he found out that USA Today had the story and was about to go public.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 98 stories; of all Major Event Weeks, ranks second only to Magic Johnson Week I.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: AIDS coverage was prominent in newspapers with six front page stories. But as in the case of Kimberly Bergalis, there were no lead stories on network TV news.

COMMENTS: Primarily a print story, with many researched Backgrounders. Timing of death -- late on a Saturday -- may explain the very limited network TV news coverage (five AIDS stories in total, none in the top third of broadcast).

REASON FOR SELECTION: Magic Johnson's return put the spotlight on HIV and sports, and how attitudes changed since his announcement and initial retirement.

BACKGROUND: Soon after he retired from pro basketball, Magic Johnson questioned whether his decision had been a mistake. He kept his options open by playing for 1992 Olympic Dream Team. His initial NBA comeback attempt during the 1993 pre-season was aborted when some of his fellow players expressed concern. A year later, he served a one-month stint as head coach of his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers. By 1996, player attitudes had changed enough to allow him to rejoin the Lakers as an active player.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 77 stories, about average for a Major Event Week.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: AIDS coverage was prominent in newspapers with seven front page stories, but did not come close to Magic Johnson Week I standards (18). Only one lead story on network TV news.

COMMENTS: The comeback led to nine AIDS stories on network TV news, second only to Magic Johnson Week I. But only four of these stories ran in the top third of the broadcast.

REASON FOR SELECTION: Occurring soon after Magic Johnson's return to the NBA, the Morrison incident called attention to how different sports handle the issue of HIV-positive athletes.

BACKGROUND: Heavyweight prizefighter Tommy Morrison was identified as HIV-positive after being tested by the Nevada Boxing Commission prior to a scheduled bout in Las Vegas. When his HIV status was revealed, he was forced to withdraw from that fight and was effectively barred from the ring everywhere.

AMOUNT OF AIDS-FOCUSED COVERAGE: 76 stories, about average for a Major Event Week.

PAGE ONE/LEAD STORIES: AIDS coverage was not played very prominently by either print or broadcast media. Three front page newspaper stories; not a single lead story on network TV news.
COMMENTS: Not prominently featured on TV network news (eight stories, none in top third of broadcast). Largely relegated to sports, style, and bullet items in newspapers.

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