You can find HIV treatment newsletters and mags edited from almost any perspective and for all knowledge levels. (Many are available by donation or free to HIVers who can’t afford subscriptions.) POZ did an informal survey of docs, advocates and PWAs, both wonks and non, asking which periodicals folks find most—and least—useful. Tied for first were the grassroots AIDS Treatment News and Notes From the Underground, cited for their independence and accessibility. Treatment Issues won many kudos for its “get it right” accuracy and depth, with a few holdouts calling its style too technical. The sassy, savvy TAGLine has its own faithful fans, although others find its tone too insidery. And several with online access said their favorite source of daily updates is AEGIS (www.aegis.com), accurately billed as “The largest AIDS/HIV knowledge base in the world,” which also features many of the following newsletters. Sprinkled throughout this list are six of the responses to our query. For a more complete newsletter list, including addresses, click on www.poz.com, or write to POZ at 349 W. 12th St., New York, NY 10014.
AIDS Treatment News 800.873.2812 www.aidsnews.org John James’ classic source of timely treatment info, plus policy analysis and activist bites. Twice monthly.
BETA—Bulletin of Experimental Treatments for AIDS (San Francisco AIDS Foundation) 800.833.0159 www.sfaf.org/beta Embraces Western and alternative therapies, but never in fewer than 1,000 packed words. Quarterly.
Continuum 011.44.171.713.7071 Britain’s hard-line HIV-is-not-the-cause-of-AIDS mag that also covers alternative therapies. Hated by many, loved by some. Quarterly.
Critical Path AIDS Project 215.545.2212 www.critpath.org Kiyoshi Kuromiya’s activist-oriented, in-depth analysis of new treatment developments. Quarterly.
Equilibrium 011.44.171.564.2126 From Britain, a well-researched look at integrative, East/West HIV therapy programs. Quarterly.
HIV Plus (published by OUT magazine) 212.334.9119 Flashy, friendly research and treatment summaries from longtime AIDS reporter Anne-Christine d’Adesky. Quarterly.
InfoPack (Community Prescription Service) 800.842.0502 www.prescript.com Straight talk about complex problems like resistance, HIV treatment strategy and OI therapies. Every other month.
Notes From the Underground (PWA Health Group) 212.255.0520 Feisty reviews of real-world treatments, plus analysis of pharmaceutical hype from a respected buyers club. Every other month.
Positively Aware (Test Positive Aware Network) 773.472.6397 www.tpan.com Treatment Lite. Reader-friendly and practical, with good charts and graphics. Every other month.
Project Inform Perspectives 800.822.7422 www.projinf.org Martin Delaney’s brainchild has a rep for not just looking to the AIDS horizon, but consistently peeking over it. Every other month.
SIDAahora (PWA Coalition of New York) 800.828.3280 www.aidsinfony.org Coverage of people, pills and politics—in Spanish—from a Latino perspective. Every other month.
STEP Perspectives (Seattle Treatment Education Project) 206.329.4857 Graduate-level AIDS: The quick fix for treatment junkies. Quarterly.
TAGLine (Treatment Action Group) 212.260.0300 www.aidsinfonyc.org/tag The ultimate in research-world data and dish. Edited by Mike Barr, it serves up smart and cynical—but often highly wonkish—coverage. Also in Spanish. Monthly
Treatment Issues (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) 212.367.1040 www.gmhc.org Edited by Dave Gilden, it offers the perfect practical/ political mix for those watching the newest drugs. Packed with a dose of behind-the-scenes drama. Monthly.
Treatment Review (AIDS Treatment Data Network) 800.734.7104 aidsinfonyc.org/network Plain-speak about treatment options. Cutting-edge and comprehensive. Quarterly.
Treatment Update (CATIE—Community AIDS Treatment Info Exchange) 800.263.1638 www.catie.ca Canada’s newsletter that provides clear info on conventional and alternative treatments, en francais et anglais. Monthly.
WISE Words (Project Inform) 800.822.7422 www.projinf.org Simple-language info on treatment options for women with HIV. Three times yearly.
Women Alive (Women Alive Coalition) 213.965.1564 www.thebody.com/wa/wapage Info with an activist focus for and by women with HIV. Also publishes the Spanish Ecos Femeninos. Quarterly.
WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases) 510.986.0340 www.womenhiv.org Graceful, gritty stories about women with HIV, plus women- and child-specific treatment info, edited by Rebecca Denison. Monthly.
“I admire TAGLine’s unrivaled ability to cut through the hype, bringing a welcome realism where others offer premature enthusiasm.” EDWARD KING, FORMER EDITOR, LONDON’S AIDS TREATMENT UPDATE
“I’ve yet to see a good treatment publication for youth. I read AIDS Treatment News and BETA because I understand them.” BILL BARNES, HIV POSITIVE SAN FRANCISCO YOUTH ACTIVIST
“I find WORLD especially useful—it takes into account social and psychological issues and presents anecdotal voices of positive women worldwide.” IMANI HARRINGTON, SAN FRANCISCO PWA AND PLAYWRIGHT
“As a physician treating AIDS, such newsletters as PI Perspectives and Treatment Issues provide me with a rapid, thorough update—more useful than the medical journals I get.” DR. BERNARD BIHARI, SUNY HEALTH
“Positively Aware recently stated that its drug reporting takes a ‘skeptical activist’ stance. I hope this means an end to the articles it sometimes ran that read like drug-company press releases.” MARK MILANO, NEW YORK PWA AND ACTIVIST
“AIDS Treatment News and Treatment Issues both get out just-breaking news with great attention to detail and accuracy.” CARLTON HOGAN, MINNEAPOLIS PWA AND AIDS CLINICAL RESEARCHER
