Using New Media to Reach Communities of Color: Lessons Learned from Leaders in the Field

By Denean Standing, Advisor to AIDS.gov, Indian Health Service

AIDS disproportionately impacts communities of color. Because we work to build capacity in minority communities to augment the response to HIV/AIDS, last month Miguel Gomez and Fard Johnmar , Founder of Envision Solutions, LLC , moderated a discussion about the current status of new media, where it is headed, and how AIDS.gov can better reach the organizations and leaders who are serving communities of color.

Lights, Camera, Take Action! Making, Watching, and Sharing Videos Online

By Josie Halpern-Finnerty

Over half of internet users watch and download online videos . In the last month, we’ve shared numerous videos with you of individuals talking about the importance of HIV testing through this blog. Today’s post is dedicated to how you can use online videos to respond to HIV—by watching, making, and sharing them!

Video of International AIDS Society 2009 Conference Session, Global HIV Research and Policy and Program Implementation Under the New U.S. Administration

Video-sharing sites allow you to upload, share, and store online videos (similar to photo sharing sites). One of the most common video sharing sites is YouTube . Others include GoogleVideo , Yahoo!Video , dotSUB (for captioned videos) and ICYou (for health-focused videos). These sites share much in common with online social network sites, such as Facebook and MySpace—users can connect with each other, send messages, leave comments, and share videos.

World's Largest Open Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS Uses New Media Tools

By Miguel Gomez

This weekend approximately 5,000 of the world’s leading scientists, clinicians, public health experts and community leaders will convene in Cape Town, South Africa, for the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention (IAS 2009) to “examine the latest developments in HIV-related research, and to explore how scientific advances can—in very practical ways—inform the global response to HIV/AIDS.” The conference will run July 19-22, 2009.

Community Voice Mail: Reaching the "Phoneless" with HIV Information

By Michelle Samplin-Salgado

Last week we wrapped up our month-long series of blog posts for National HIV Testing Day. But there’s one more National HIV Testing Day collaboration story that we’ve been waiting to share with you. We’ve discussed how communities of color use new media (and that access to new media often has much more to do with the type of internet connection you have than any other factor); Community Voice Mail addresses another access issue—phonelessness. Forget broadband or dial-up for a minute. What if you didn’t have a phone?

National HIV Testing Day - It's about YOU

By Deb LeBel

Saturday, June 27th was National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). For the past month, we've focused on real stories by real people about what taking an HIV test meant to them, through our “I Know, I Took the Test ” blog series and widget. We highlighted real personal HIV testing stories collected by organizations such as The Positive Project, Southern AIDS Living Quilt, National Association of People with AIDS, and POZ. We've been moved by the stories of people young and old, heterosexual and gay, male, female and transgender, people from different races and ethnicities, and people who have tested positive and negative for HIV. We've been inspired by their courage in offering their stories to all of us.