Celebrities as strategic actors in journalistic visibility on Aids and homophobia

Abstract

Between 2008 and 2012, it was conducted in Brazil three major researches on journalistic coverage on LGBT issues, HIV / AIDS and homophobia. These researches were articulated by the effort of apprehending the journalistic treatment of these issues and the events related to them, as well as the features they acquired in the media scene. Of the 6009 journalistic texts collected, 49% of them had as main actor the so-called celebrities. This article, on the one hand, defends tha the discussion of LGBT rights, homophobia, and HIV / AIDS issues today enters the media scene through the back door, leaving space to verify and discuss the political importance of what is commonly understood as soft news. On the other hand, it is important to consider that the visibility promoted by celebrities is not necessarily positive, insofar as it can be associated with different moral and ideological values.