‘Something's Brewing’: The Changing Trends in Alcohol Coverage in Australian Newspapers 2000–2011

Azar, Denise; White, Victoria; Bland, Stephanie D.; Livingston, Michael; Room, Robin; Chikritzhs, Tanya; Durkin, Sarah; Gilmore, William; Wakefield, Melanie

doi:10.1093/alcalc/agt139

Cited by 44 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Stories about cancer and its risk factors are frequently reported in the news media [8], as are stories about alcohol [9, 10]. However, news media typically frames the issues presented, emphasising certain points and omitting others, such that key information may be contested, obscured, unclearly or inaccurately presented, or simply absent [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, this can be detrimental to public health messages regarding cancer and alcohol, particularly if such coverage is driven by alcohol companies and other stakeholders who benefit from the public consumption of alcohol, as occurred in the context of tobacco [12, 13]. Nonetheless, within Australia, the prevalence of newspaper articles promoting alcohol and alcohol consumption has increased, whilst those indicating disapproval of (harmful) alcohol use has decreased, suggesting a shift within the Australian public in the perception of alcohol use overall [10]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

et al. 2017

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BackgroundAlcohol is a Class-1 carcinogen but public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer is low. The news media is a popular, readily-accessible source of health information and plays a key role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy-makers. Examination of how the link between alcohol and cancer is presented in Australian print media could inform public health advocacy efforts to raise awareness of this modifiable cancer risk factor.MethodThis study provides a summative qualitative content analysis of 1502 articles that included information about a link between alcohol and cancer, as reported within Australian newspaper media (2005–2013). We use descriptive statistics to examine the prominence of reports, the nature and content of claims regarding the link between alcohol and cancer, and the source of information noted in each article.ResultsArticles were distributed throughout newspapers, most appearing within the main (first) section. The link between alcohol and cancer tended not to appear early in articles, and rarely featured in headlines. 95% of articles included a claim that alcohol causes cancer, 5% that alcohol prevented or did not cause cancer, 1% included both. Generally, the amount of alcohol that would cause or prevent cancer was unspecified or open to subjective interpretation. Coverage increased over time, primarily within community/free papers. The claim that alcohol causes cancer often named a specific cancer, did not name a specific alcohol, was infrequently the focus of articles (typically subsumed within an article on general health issues), and cited various health-promoting (including advocacy) organisations as information sources. Articles that included the converse also tended not to focus on that point, often named a specific type of alcohol, and most cited research institutions or generic ‘research’ as sources. Half of all articles involved repetition of materials, and most confirmed that alcohol caused cancer.ConclusionsInformation about a link between alcohol and cancer is available in the Australian newsprint media, but may be hidden within and thus overshadowed by other health-related stories. Strategic collaboration between health promoting organisations, and exploitation of ‘churnalism’ and journalists’ preferences for ready-made ‘copy’ may facilitate increased presence and accuracy of the alcohol-cancer message.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

et al. 2017

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“…For example, in the United Kingdom, Nicholls [57] argues that the normalisation of drinking in the news has declined and that public health advocates have successfully asserted their place in the media. In Australia, Azar et al [9] find that alcohol use is portrayed more disapprovingly in recent years than a decade earlier. Similarly, Lemmens, et al [58] maintain that US news media have given more prominence to public health in alcohol issues coverage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this paper investigates how alcohol issues are covered in the news media by examining newspapers. It engages with the growing literature on this subject, which has investigated news media coverage of minimum pricing [5,6,7,8], alcohol use [9], the alcohol industry itself [10], alcohol policy and education [11,12], alcohol advertising [13], alcohol in ethnic and racial minority newspapers [14], as well as specific pieces of alcohol-related legislation [15]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Media Coverage of Alcohol Issues: A Critical Political Economy Framework—A Case Study from Ireland

Mercille

2017

IJERPH

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There is a growing literature on news media representations of alcohol-related issues. However, current scholarship has neglected critical political economic frameworks to interpret media coverage of alcohol. This paper presents such a framework that conceives of news organisations as corporations that share the values and interests of political and economic elites. The media are thus expected to present viewpoints that are more aligned with the alcohol industry than the scientific consensus on public health policy would warrant. The media are also expected, but to a lesser extent, to present a certain amount of support for public health perspectives because these are supported by a few socioeconomic elite groups (the medical professions, progressive politicians). The case of Ireland from 2012 to 2017 illustrates the framework empirically. Four main newspapers’ coverage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and related policies is examined. Results show that, overall, 44.0% of articles support public health measures and 56.0% are opposed or remain neutral. It is argued that the media are not strong proponents of public health for multiple reasons: there are more articles opposed to or neutral toward public health measures than supporting them; the number of supportive articles remains relatively small and there are still many pieces presenting drinks industry views; there are virtually no calls in the media for stronger measures; supportive coverage is partially explained by the pub owners lobby’s support for minimum unit pricing; the media often downplay or ignore the negative consequences of alcohol, such as its role in accidents; many news articles normalise drinking and promote events sponsored by the industry; there is not a single Irish journalist covering alcohol issues systematically; and other policy issues that are prioritised by elites receive multiple times more media coverage than public health measures. In short, the media reflect the views of the political and economic establishment on public health measures: there is some support from the medical professions and progressive politicians, but overall, there is a clear reluctance to support strong public health strategies. One main recommendation for public health advocates to promote their perspectives is to diversify the mass media and make them less commercial in nature, as well as to engage with non-corporate, so-called progressive “alternative media” outlets.

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“…In Australia and internationally, the trend for the past 40 years has been towards increasing the number of outlets, and minimising or abolishing limits on hours of the day and the week in which they are allowed to sell alcohol. This trend, motivated by various forces including policies encouraging market competition 11 , has generally continued until now, but during the past decade there has been some reversal in Australian public discourse about alcohol 12 and in public opinion about alcohol licensing controls. 13 Despite the strong influence of alcohol industry interests, Australian governments have begun to respond to this shift in sentiment.…”

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confidence: 99%

Impacts of changes to trading hours of liquor licences on alcohol-related harm: a systematic review 2005–2015

Wilkinson¹,

Livingston²,

Room³

2016

Public Health Res Pract

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‘Something's Brewing’: The Changing Trends in Alcohol Coverage in Australian Newspapers 2000–2011

Abstract: The presentation of alcohol use in Australian newspapers became more disapproving over time, which may suggest that harmful alcohol use has become less acceptable among the broader Australian community.

Cited by 44 publications

References 22 publications

An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013

Media Coverage of Alcohol Issues: A Critical Political Economy Framework—A Case Study from Ireland

Impacts of changes to trading hours of liquor licences on alcohol-related harm: a systematic review 2005–2015

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