Reporting for the general population : heteronormativity in HIV/AIDS coverage of two city newspapers, 1981-2023

Assuming a heteronormative framework as the guiding foundation of any mainstream news organization, this study analyzes HIV/AIDS coverage published by The Chicago Tribune and The Houston Chronicle from 1981-2023. The coverage was reviewed in the context of treatment as coordinated by each city's respective health department and health facilities which provided care for queer patients. The researcher analyzed the influence of the heteronormative framework on coverage of the disease, as well as the representation of queer sources and issues of queer health throughout the timeline. The researcher found that coverage of the disease, as it concerned treatment, often prioritized the needs and experiences of other at-risk demographics rather than the queer community. While never wholly absent, the presence of openly queer sources would appear with greater frequency along the timeline, sharing with reporters their experiences fighting the disease and their struggles to find quality care.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Journalism

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Bremer, Arthur

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Perry, Earnest

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/109446

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/109446