JOUR 61: Top News 5

A news story that really attracted my attention this week concerned the debate over whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should continue with its ban on donations of blood from gay men. The story was in the San Jose Mercury News on Friday, with the headline “FDA’s blood-donation ban: Does it save or risk lives?”

This story is of particular relevance to local readers; because the debate has been sparked by San Jose State University’s banning of blood drives on their campus, due to the belief that the FDA policy discriminates against gay men. If more colleges and other organizations decide to follow suit then there could be a major strain on the supply of blood to hospitals. This has given the debate more currency.

This story is fascinating in part because of the conflict contained in it. A university has spoken out in their belief that a fundamental policy is wrong and they are making a stand against it. Readers will have differing views on which side of the argument they stand on.

The article could also influence the lives of many readers who will need blood themselves or will have family or friends in that position. Furthermore everyone will be concerned at the prospect of there not being enough blood donated. Finally the readers of the newspaper, who are gay men will also be directly affected by this story.