Browsing by Author "Rademan, Anna Elizabeth"

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    Cancer in the news: an investigation into pseudoscience in cancer reporting via South African online news media
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Rademan, Anna Elizabeth; Joubert, Catherina Magdalena; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology.
    Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. With the increasing reliance on online media for health information, the proliferation of pseudoscientific cancer claims poses a significant threat to informed health decisions. Therefore, this study investigated the presence of pseudoscience in cancer reporting via online news media in South Africa and explored the perceptions of South African cancer researchers regarding this issue. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate the trends of pseudoscientific cancer reporting in South African online news, a content analysis was conducted on 431 cancer articles from the eight most popular South African news media sites over 10 years (2013—2022). A webbased survey explored the perceptions of South African cancer researchers regarding pseudoscientific cancer reporting and their roles and responsibilities in combatting misinformation. The study revealed several key findings about pseudoscience in South African online news media. The content analysis showed that only 8% of cancer news articles had sensationalised headlines and 10% contained sensationalised content, indicating a relatively high standard of online health journalism in South Africa. However, a concerning 74% of exaggerated claims found in 54 news articles lacked substantiation, often involving miracle cures, herbal remedies, alternative medicine, and superfoods. Positively, 62% of the articles actively debunked false treatments, such as rhino horn as a cancer cure, highlighting the media's role in promoting evidence-based practices and protecting both public health and the environment. The survey results revealed discrepancies between the content analysis and cancer researchers’ perceptions. While the content analysis indicated low sensationalism, only 13% of cancer researchers rated the quality of cancer news reporting as high. A substantial 76% believed news reports oversimplify scientific findings, and 84% perceived cancer news as frequently hyped, reflecting widespread concern about sensationalism and misrepresentation in cancer media coverage among South African cancer researchers. Furthermore, 62% of cancer researchers perceived an increase in pseudoscientific news media content over the past decade. While 34% of the news articles mentioned 147 different pseudoscientific cures, only 15% actively promoted these treatments. Although 53% of the cancer researchers were willing to engage with journalists to address pseudoscience, 66% had not done so, citing barriers such as time constraints and lack of institutional support. Engagement with the public also emerged as a key issue. An overwhelming 97% of cancer researchers recognised the importance of disseminating their findings, and 87% were willing to communicate with journalists. However, only 47% reported actual engagement with journalists, while 58% observed that their colleagues do not engage regularly, indicating systemic barriers within academic culture. The study highlights the need to uphold high standards of journalistic integrity and accuracy in health reporting, as well as the critical role of healthcare professionals, researchers, and institutions in ensuring factual reporting to counter pseudoscience. Collaborative efforts among scientists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and journalists are essential to maintain rigorous standards, combat misinformation, and safeguard public health. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring and improvement in media practices, as well as addressing systemic barriers that hinder researchers from engaging with the media to combat pseudoscience.
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    Creating expectations : the bioethics of genetics as reflected in selected South African media with specific reference to CRISPR-Cas9
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Rademan, Anna Elizabeth; Claassen, George; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the era of genetic engineering, the CRISPR-Cas9 system has been hailed as one of the most important genetic discoveries and is often discussed in terms of its momentous potential applications on health. However, from a bioethical perspective, the technology poses several challenges with regards to safety, regulation and human enhancement. The field of genetic engineering and bioethics have moved from academic journals to the mass media. The news media’s reporting on complex bioethical issues such as CRISPR-Cas9 can influence the public’s perception and understanding thereof. Literature confirms that the news media, as part of the public domain, also shape subsequent ethical policies and regulations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate expectations that the South African media create surrounding the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system. In the South African context, academic research in this area is still limited. Situated in the field of journalism studies, this study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative content analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 related articles from the top 10 most popular South African news media sites between January 2013 and June 2019. The study extended knowledge in the field of science and bioethics reporting in the South African news media. Certain problems were observed with regards to evidence-based science journalism as not enough attention was given to specific research applications or methodological aspects of CRISPR-Cas9 and therefore it is difficult for the audience to separate science hype from evidence-based research. The bioethical debate is evident in the articles analysed and showed the tension between the promotion of science but also the caution towards the risks of CRISPR-Cas9. These risks include technical, ethical, legal, and social aspects that need to be addressed before it will be ethically acceptable to use the technology on the human germline. The media play a pivotal part in facilitating the public debate and encouraging public discussion about the governance of the technology. The theory of framing played an important role, and the use of frames can be useful as an aid to explanation and creating cultural and social meaning. However, the choice of frames should be carefully considered because they may misrepresent and mislead public perception of the technology. The news media should perhaps not resurrect old frames such as the Frankenstein myth but instead develop new meaningful metaphors together with evidence-based science journalism.