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Abstract
This study examined whether and in which way three American media outlets used otherization framing in their news coverage of those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa over a 20-year period of high interest in the disease (1987-2007). Six different types of otherization frames were identified from the previous literature (African Other, Criminal Other, Homosexual Other, Deviant Other, Diseased Other, Feared Other) and analyzed for their presence in the study, while a seventh frame (Shamed Other) was added partway through the study. Frame prominence, article tone, and calls for action were variables that were also measured across and between the three media outlets of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press. Otherization framing did occur in 90% of all news articles in the study (N=421), with the African Other being the most frequent and prominent frame. Additionally, a large percentage of all articles (39.9%) were negatively toned.