Twelve focus groups were conducted to determine how various at-risk groups would respond to Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) educational outreach approaches presented via print (posters and comic book), television, and radio media. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HIV and AIDS were also investigated. Members of the Ulster County New York AIDS Consortium were trained as focus group facilitators and moderators to conduct these sessions. While there were certain outreach aspects that achieved consensus, these were all technical in nature. On all other points, preferences, judgments, personal history, gender, and other sensitivities shaped reactions, demonstrating the difficulty of creating a single approach that would effectively reach all audiences. (The report describes what each of the 12 focus groups favored and what they disliked. Reactions to these outreach efforts emphasize the need to do early message testing in developing educational materials. It is clear that a number of aspects that writers/designers of these materials assumed would work were generally not successful. Equally important is the fact that certain aspects worked well for some audiences but not for others. The depth of fine tuning possible after focus groups like these is unlikely to be achieved with any other methodology. An AIDS topic guide for facilitators and recorders is included.) (ABL)