Cancer in the news: an investigation into pseudoscience in cancer reporting via South African online news media.
This project aims to investigate the burning issue of pseudoscience and misinformation in the media with specific reference to cancer reporting via online news media in South Africa. This study will also explore the perceptions of South African cancer researchers and health journalists regarding pseudoscientific cancer claims and their potential role and responsibility to combat it. Because of the complex nature of cancer, news reporting on the topic is particularly susceptible to hype, sensationalism, misrepresentation, inaccuracies, contradiction, and misinformation. The research will hopefully provide sound guidelines for how the media should report on cancer to prevent misleading and harmful quackery claims in news reports.
Supervisor: Dr M Joubert
