Juanne N. Clarke|Gudrun van Amerom
Mass print media depictions of cancer and heart disease: community versus individualistic perspectives?
Wilfrid Laurier University|Wilfrid Laurier University
paper based critical discourse content analysis 40 stories 20 highest circulating englishlanguage mass magazines available canada published canada usa 2001 examines presence absence social determinants perspective portrayal two significant causes morbidity mortality countries cancer heart disease media analysis documents absence reflection social determinants viewpoint important causes disease death thus magazine stories ignore role considerations income education level ethnicity visible minority aboriginal status early life experiences employment working conditions food accessibility quality housing social services social exclusion unemployment employment security explaining health instead magazine articles underscore individualistic approach disease assumes health care accessible available diseases preventable treatable individual lifestyle choices combination measures prescribed conventional medicine although cancer heart disease framed medical discourse articles tended emphasise independence freedom power individual within medical care system research documents continuation dominance conventional medicine buttressed individualism media stories theoretical methodological issues discussed practical consequences policymakers professionals noted