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A Content Analytic Study of Daily Newspaper Coverage of Cancer

1979; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/23808985.1979.11923787

2380-8985

Rachel H. Greenberg, Vicki S. Freimuth, Elaine Bratic,

Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Cancer-related news stories were content analyzed to determine the extent to which coverage of cancer, by body site, is commensurate wiith incidence rates, whether coverage parallels information priorities of cancer communicators, and whether cancer news stories reinforce or dispel public misconceptions about the disease. Over 2,000 stories published in the 50 largest daily newspapers during August, September, and October, 1977 were analyzed by four coders. Two units of analysis were defined: the story as a whole and the content pertaining to specific types of cancer. The findings indicate that daily newspaper coverage of cancer-related topics that are perceived as priorities by cancer communicators and that might dispel public misconceptions about cancer was limited. Information that places the disease in perspective—in terms of incidence rates, prevention, and control—was lacking in the vast majority of news stories analyzed.