Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2006
Source: Phoenix, The (MA)
Copyright: 2006 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/4243
Website: http://www.thephoenix.com
Author: David S. Bernstein

ACTIVISTS TAKE WORCESTER MAG'S COVER INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

Needling The Editor

The new state law allowing over-the-counter sales of hypodermic 
needles has caused plenty of controversy.

But the latest clash is between those who agree on the issue. 
Worcester magazine has editorialized in favor of the law and, going 
further, for a needle-exchange program as an effective way to reduce 
the alarming spread of HIV among intravenous-drug users. A group of 
10 Worcester activists favor exactly the same thing. So why did the 
10 activists feel it necessary to deface as many as 2000 copies of 
the latest issue of the publication, which features a cover story 
titled "The Path of the Needle" ?

"The cover of last week's Worcester magazine sensationalized a 
life-or-death issue," says one of the participants, who asked that 
his name not be used. "We were all outraged at the cover and the 
substance of the article as well."

The article, by staff writer Scott Zoback, looks at what might happen 
to the easily purchased needles after they are used -- a piece of the 
puzzle, the article shows, that has not yet been adequately 
addressed, with the law set to take effect September 18. The 
eye-catching cover features a hypodermic needle replacing the L in 
"Needle,"  and the line: "What neighborhoods face when drugstores 
sell needles like cigarettes."

The issue hit the streets last Thursday, and quickly riled up the 10 
friends, who saw it as "fear-mongering"  and playing into the hands 
of those opposed to the new law. Some in their position would write 
letters to the editor complaining. They chose to change the cover. On 
Friday and Saturday, the friends went out on foot, bicycle, and car 
with stickers carefully designed in Photoshop. Applied to the front 
of the magazine, the stickers added a brief phrase, so that the cover 
now read: "Less HIV infections is What neighborhoods face when 
drugstores sell needles like cigarettes."  They claim to have added 
the stickers to 2000 of the 40,000 copies distributed around the city.

Then they tipped off the Worcester Telegram, which reported the 
headline ambush on Tuesday. All of this has simply drawn more 
attention to Worcester magazine's coverage of an important topic, 
says its editor, Michael Warshaw.

"This is exactly the kind of ruckus we're looking for -- and we 
encourage people to read the story," he says. "The best thing we can 
do is advance the public dialogue, and we did."

Nevertheless, he prefers that future covers be left alone.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman