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Skin cancer coverage in a national newspaper: A teachable moment

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Abstract

Background. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the number of published articles related to skin cancer inThe New York Times newspaper from 1980–2004; (2) assess the content of the articles related to skin cancer, and (3) examine the trends in media coverage of skin cancer over time.Methods. We performed a content analysis on articles related to skin cancer appearing inThe New York Times during January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2004, using the ProQuest® online content repository database and key wordsskin cancer. We conducted an advanced focus search of all “skin cancer” articles using key words “melanoma,” “squamous cell carcinoma,” “basal cell carcinoma,” “sunscreen,” “tanning,” “sunbathing,” and “tanning salon.”Results. We identified 874 published articles relating to skin cancer. Melanoma was the primary subject of the 874 articles, with 29% of the articles focusing on some aspect of melanoma. Coverage of other major subjects included sunscreen (11%), tanning (9%), basal cell carcinoma (7%), squamous cell carcinoma (3%), sunbathing (2%), and tanning salon (2%). The remaining 37% of articles contained some mention of skin cancer, but skin cancer was not the main topic nor were any of the focus terms. Over the 25-year period we examined, there was slight upward trend in the number of skin-cancer-related articles, although we observed year-to-year variation.Conclusions. Understanding how the print media portrays skin cancer issues provides valuable feedback for federal agencies and cancer organizations and may ultimately help promote skin cancer prevention and education.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Susan A. Oliveria SCD, MPH

    Present address: Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 160 East 53rd Street, 2nd Floor, 10022, New York, NY

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY

    Carole Hazan MD

  2. Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 160 East 53rd Street, 2nd Floor, 10022, New York, NY

    Maureen K. Heneghan BSC & Allan C. Halpern MD, MS

Authors
  1. Maureen K. Heneghan BSC
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  2. Carole Hazan MD
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  3. Allan C. Halpern MD, MS
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  4. Susan A. Oliveria SCD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan A. Oliveria SCD, MPH.

Additional information

Supported by K07 CA94002 from the National Institutes of Health (SAO).

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Heneghan, M.K., Hazan, C., Halpern, A.C. et al. Skin cancer coverage in a national newspaper: A teachable moment. J Canc Educ 22, 99–104 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174356

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