Profiles of Cancer News in Correio da Manhã and The New York Times Newspapers during the Years 1931-1932 and 1948-1949

Abstract

Introduction: In the early decades of the last century, cancer was already characterized as one of the most lethal chronic degenerative diseases and began to demand more attention from Governments. Therefore, some countries undertook new policy measures, such as increasing investments in scientific research in search for a cure. Objective: This paper aims at characterizing the content of news stories on cancer in the Brazilian and North American newspapers Correio da Manhã and The New York Times, in the 1930s and 1940s, through analysis of the news published in four selected years (1931, 1932, 1948 and 1949). Method: We conducted research in the collection of documents at the Brazilian National Library and The New York Times digital archive. In parallel, we also performed analysis on cancer publications in the scientific journals at the same time. Results: While in the Correio da Manhã, we identified 56 news articles on that subject in the studied period; in the American Journal we identified 540 pieces of news, an amount nearly 10 times higher. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a shy and sometimes naive Brazilian press, faced with promises of miracle cures, such as ointments against skin cancer. Meanwhile, the U.S. media, 70 years ago, prioritized approaches on investments on disease research, highlighted lectures by subject matter experts and scientists, and even discussed the use of animal experimentation in cancer research; however, on some occasions, it has also bet on scientific innovations that history would show as fruitless initiatives.