ABSTRACT
During the mid-1980s many Americans misunderstood the risks associated with AIDS transmission (Roper Center for Public Opinion Research Archives, 1983–1990; Singer & Rogers, 1987; Singer, Rogers, & Corcoran, 1987). This widespread misunderstanding has been attributed to scientists and authority figures (Scott, 1987), journalists (Brecher, 1988; Shaw, 1987a, 1987b), copyeditors and media decision makers (Dorfman, 1987; Kinsella, 1988, 1989; Kramer, 1988; Shilts, 1987), organizations (Perrow & Guillen, 1990), and the triumvirate institutions of science, government, and journalism (Check, 1987). The problem of disseminating accurate information about AIDS to the public was somewhat indicative of the problems of risk communication about health issues in general (Plough & Krimsky, 1987).
