Credit: McGill

In a world filled with tragedy and turmoil, the natural tendency for newsmakers might be to play up the shock value of destruction. However—according to a new study from McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital—the Canadian print media is increasingly hedging on the side of hope when it comes to cancer coverage.

The study, led by Dr. Melissa Henry, examines cancer portrayals in six major Canadian newspapers from the late 1980’s to 2008. Dr. Henry explains the impetus behind the study: “Knowledge of how newspapers portray cancer is essential. It has the power to affect how individuals relate to cancer, it motivates information seeking and promotes preventive behaviours.”

According to the study, cancer coverage has amplified throughout this period in both quantity and positivity, with more cancer-related stories focusing on positive topics such as survival, awareness, . . . → Read More: Helpful Headlines: Impact of Cancer Coverage in Canadian Print