Magazines for HIV Awareness
As the magazine has gained popularity as a medium that can reach across all industries, The Vangardist is using it to raise HIV awareness. The small Austrian men’s magazine did so by printing an entire issue in HIV-positive blood laced ink.
The Vanguardist’s co-publisher Julian Wiehl explained that the purpose of printing the magazine with HIV-positive blood was to break the stigma that surrounds the disease. He says, “"If you see the magazine ... the first question that comes to your mind is, 'Would I touch it? Would I take it in my hands?' And the second question is, 'Why would I touch it?' or 'Why wouldn't I touch it?'"
Handling the magazine is actually completely harmless, as the blood was autoclaved before printing. The ink was used to highlight the lack of HIV coverage and the fact that the epidemic is still not under control.
The Vangardist publishes 10 digital magazines per year, this being a special edition issue that can be ordered online.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/05/04/this-entire-magazine-is-printed-using-hiv-positive-blood/