Emily Shepherd1, Clive Seale. 1. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Concern has been expressed about the adequacy of media reporting about eating disorders (EDs) and the impact of this on public understanding. We analyse messages about EDs in UK newspapers, comparing these with US news reports, and show changes over time and between types of newspaper. METHOD: Three thousand five hundred and eighty-three national press news articles were analysed using content and keyword analysis. RESULTS: UK press coverage presents a more realistic clinical picture than US coverage. Profiling people with EDs, popular 'tabloid' newspapers give more details of clinical complications than serious 'broadsheet' newspapers, which focus more on research stories and public health concerns. The association of EDs with young, white, female 'celebrities' is constant over time, but medical views about causation and treatment are more prominent in later years. CONCLUSION: Popular journalists pursue an entertainment agenda for their reporting of health stories and this study shows both the constraints and public education opportunities provided by this genre.
OBJECTIVE: Concern has been expressed about the adequacy of media reporting about eating disorders (EDs) and the impact of this on public understanding. We analyse messages about EDs in UK newspapers, comparing these with US news reports, and show changes over time and between types of newspaper. METHOD: Three thousand five hundred and eighty-three national press news articles were analysed using content and keyword analysis. RESULTS: UK press coverage presents a more realistic clinical picture than US coverage. Profiling people with EDs, popular 'tabloid' newspapers give more details of clinical complications than serious 'broadsheet' newspapers, which focus more on research stories and public health concerns. The association of EDs with young, white, female 'celebrities' is constant over time, but medical views about causation and treatment are more prominent in later years. CONCLUSION: Popular journalists pursue an entertainment agenda for their reporting of health stories and this study shows both the constraints and public education opportunities provided by this genre.
Authors: Katharina Bühren; Linda von Ribbeck; Reinhild Schwarte; Karin Egberts; Ernst Pfeiffer; Christian Fleischhaker; Christoph Wewetzer; Lieven N Kennes; Astrid Dempfle; Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2013-02-08 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Alice MacLean; Helen Sweeting; Laura Walker; Chris Patterson; Ulla Räisänen; Kate Hunt Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-05-29 Impact factor: 2.692