Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The popular media ("Media" here referring to newspapers, magazines. television,
internet) adds to confusion and panic when reporting on the risks and benefits of
Hormone Replacement Therapy for women (HRT).
Most reports show bias, cast scientists as villains, or leave the reader more
confused than before about terminology.
The Southern African media does in general aspire to objectivity towards both the
pharmaceutical and natural health industry.
However, shallow or inept reporting, the need to generalise complicated findings
and dramatise what's regarded as cold scientific news, create this bias and
confusion.
Misleading health reporting, in South Africa as much as anywhere else in the
world, can change health behaviour and can even cost lives.
Ethical health reporting can therefore be described as a matter of life and death.
This paper aims to analyse the media for biased, confusing and alarmist reporting.
It then aims to explain reasons for the bias or confusion.
Fourteen reports are analysed. One Time magazine report, and 13 reports selected
from the Southern African media. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Berigte oor Hormoonvervangingsterapie (HVT) vir vroue in die media ("Media") hier verwys na koerante, tydskrifte, televisie, internet) dra by tot verwarring en paniek. Die meerderheid berigte is bevooroordeeld, in die sin dat medici as booswigte uitgebeeld
word. Indien hulle nie bevooroordeeld is nie, is berigte verwarrend, soms juis in 'n
poging om konsepte te vereenvoudig. Die media in Suider Afrika aspireer wel tot objektiwiteit, teenoor beide die farmaseutiese
sowel as die holistiese (kruie) industrie. Nietemin, oppervlakkige/oningeligte verslaggewing en die behoefte om ingewikkelde navorsing te vereenvoudig/interessant te maak, dra by tot vooroordeel en verwarring.
Misleidende mediese beriggewing in Suid Afrika, net soos in die res van die wêreld, kan mense hoop om besluite te neem wat hul gesondheid kan skaad.
Die belang van etiese verslaggewing kan dus as 'n kwessie van lewe en dood beskryf word.
Hierdie studie ontleed berigte en ondersoek vooroordeel, verwarring of sensasionalisering.
Redes vir bogenoemde word dan bespreek. Veertien berigte word ontleed. (een berig uit die Amerikaanse tydskrif Time, en 13 uit die Suider Afrikaanse media)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97628 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Lotter, Rene Louise |
| Contributors | Claassen, G., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Journalism. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 130 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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