Medicine, Media, and Celebrities: News Coverage of Breast Cancer, 1960–1995

Abstract

This research investigated the relationship between medical activities, public events, and media coverage of breast cancer during a thirty-six-year period. 1 There was substantial support for medical attention preceding media attention to breast cancer, and some evidence of medical attention following media coverage. There were extremely high, significant correlations between numbers of medical journal articles and newspaper, magazine, and TV coverage. Time-series analysis revealed a two-way, concurrent relationship between breast cancer funding and media coverage. Public events (prominent women acknowledging their breast cancer) significantly affected media coverage. There was a two-way concurrent relationship between breast cancer incidence and TV coverage.