AUTHOR=Zhang Thomas Hongjie , Tham Jen Sern , Yu Xueyong , Chang Peng Kee , Kho Suet Nie 

TITLE=Sourcing and framing in cancer control continuum: A content analysis of Malaysian English and Chinese online cancer news

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.924027

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.924027

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=In health news production, sourcing and framing are two critical elements that influence how newsreaders think about and perceive the severity of a health issue. Understanding how local media covers the cancer control continuum is vital. Only a few studies have looked at the effect of sourcing and framing in cancer news coverage, so it is still unknown how sources and news frames shape cancer coverage, especially in non-western countries. This study examines framing and sourcing patterns in news stories reporting on cancer control in Malaysian mainstream (English) and ethnicity (Chinese) online news sites, uncovering underlining associations between essential news components, source, and framing. We used a predesigned code book to conduct a quantitative content analysis on cancer news stories (n=841) published in Malaysian two English and Chinese online news sites from 2017 to 2019. Cancer news received adequate coverage in Malaysian English and Chinese media, and it was also session-centered. Two logistic regression models demonstrated the internal relationships between sourcing, framing, and different elements in cancer coverage. In terms of news sources, results revealed that when the news focused on medical research, medical journals were the most likely to be cited, followed by primary cancer prevention. When the news concentrated on statistical cancer reports and environmental/occupational risk factors, government agencies were more likely to be interviewed. Of news frames, when the news articles engaged with medical institutions and mentioned medical publications, the lifestyle frame was very likely to be shown, but the environmental frame was more likely to be portrayed when interviewing medical practitioners. This study is the first comprehensive assessment to analyze and compare Malaysian English and Chinese online cancer news coverages and uncover underlying associations between news components, sourcing, and framing paradigms. We contributed to the scholarly understanding of cancer news coverage. This study can serve as a model for future health promotion researchers, journalists, and policymakers. Implications for cancer risk communication research, health journalist practices, and health policymaking were discussed.