Print media coverage of research on passive smoking

Abstract

Of 121 diVerent research studies cited in the lay press articles, only 15 were from tobacco-industry sponsored projects or publications. In magazines, acceptance of tobacco industry advertising was associated with the conclusion that research on passive smoking is controversial (p<0.0001). Conclusions-Although research on the harmful eVects of passive smoking accumulated between 1981 and 1994, lay press coverage of the research maintained that the science was controversial. Few research studies were cited to support the industry's claim that passive smoking is not harmful to health. However, tobacco industry representatives who were critical of the research methods used to study the health eVects of passive smoking were frequently quoted. (Tobacco Control 1999;8:254-260)

Coverage by the News Media of the Benefits and Risks of Medications

“…HE news media are an important source of information about health and medical therapies, 1 and there is widespread interest in the quality of reporting. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Previous studies have identified inaccurate coverage of published scientific papers, 11,12 overstatement of adverse effects or risks, 13,14 and evidence of sensationalism. 15,16 The media can also have a positive public health role, as they did in communicating simple warnings about the connection between Reye's syndrome and the use of aspirin in children.…”

Frequently cited sources in cancer news coverage: a content analysis examining the relationship between cancer news content and source citation

“…An analysis of print media coverage of research on passive smoking between 1981 and 1994 showed that despite mounting evidence over time that passive smoking was dangerous, press coverage continued to portray the issue as controversial [23]. The authors linked this disparity to the sources used in the lay press.…”

“…Sources provide context and comment [21] and can affect what the media cover and how those issues are framed [22]. In fact, past research on news coverage has suggested that sources can often skew coverage, typically to serve their own interests (economic, political, or otherwise) [18,23]. To that end, the present study identifies frequently cited sources in cancer news coverage and how source citation is related to mentions of the cancer continuum, cancer clinical trials, and types of stories.…”

Competition and Commercial Media Bias

“…Kennedy and Bero (1999) performed a content analysis on newspapers and magazine coverage of research on passive smoking. They showed that acceptance of tobacco industry advertising was significatively associated with the conclusion that research on passive smoking was controversial.…”