What's the story on cancer and diet? A content analysis of U.S. news coverage

U.S. Cancer rates remain unacceptably high, although many cancers are preventable through behavioral changes. Such changes require effective communication of information that moves people to act. In 2001, most Americans surveyed named news media as their primary source of health information. This paper considers the nature and influence of news coverage of diet in relation to cancer prevention.

Methods. We conducted a content analysis of eight years of news coverage (2000-2007) on diet and cancer in 9 major U.S. news media: Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News. We used cancer as a key search term in conjunction with diet, nutrition, and food, as well as with two specific nutritional elements, fat and vegetable.

Results. The search yielded 277 print and 40 TV stories and our analysis compares coverage over time and by media outlet. We include measures of the dietary issue of interest, type of cancer, targeted populations identified, discussion of diet as a risk or protective factor, nature of “expert” evidence presented and human interest context provided. We assess the potential of news media content to promote public engagement with of cancer prevention messages around diet.

Implications. Diet commands considerable public interest, but established dietary cancer prevention messages aren't necessarily reflected in news coverage. Rather, diet-related news is often presented as causing public confusion and disengagement with cancer prevention behaviors. This study provides a foundation for efforts to improve news media messages promoting the role of diet in cancer prevention.