New York Times Website Research Articles

Celebrity disclosure prompts public discourse regarding appearance changes related to breast cancer care: a content analysis of Internet comments

ABSTRACT Background: In an op-ed posted on the New York Times (NYT) website, Angelina Jolie disclosed that she carries the BRCA1 genetic mutation and received a preventive mastectomy. Studies have since demonstrated a positive impact of Ms. Jolie's disclosure on breast cancer-related health behaviors. This qualitative study used conventional content analysis of comments to the op-ed to explore intermediate outcomes of the disclosure; specifically, how the disclosure influenced public discourse regarding appearance changes related to breast cancer surgery. Method: After downloading all comments from the NYT website and using an iterative process to develop a standardized codebook, two researchers applied the codes using NVivo 10. Result: Five subthemes were identified in sixty-one comments discussing physical appearance or body image in the context of breast cancer treatment or preventive care: appearance versus health, perception of breast appearance following surgery, partner acceptance of appearance following surgery, beliefs about others’ reactions regarding appearance, and beliefs about reconstructive surgery. While some commenters shared body image concerns following surgery, many were relieved to have undergone the procedure, valuing health over appearance. Most women stated that their romantic partners praised their appearance following surgery, although some worried about how they were perceived in public. Conclusion: This study clarifies how celebrity disclosures about cancer may influence intermediate outcomes (e.g. interpersonal communication and beliefs about appearance-related surgical outcomes) hypothesized to contribute to changes in cancer prevention and treatment behaviors. More research is needed to further elucidate the relationships between celebrity disclosure, intermediate outcomes, and behavioral outcomes.

A Correlation Between Mass Media Communication and Foreign Investments in India

Background and Purpose: India opened its doors to globalization in 1991, and the reference point of this change through globalization has been the United States of America (USA), which champions the cause of a free economy. The current study attempted to explore the relevance and importance that globalization has brought to India through mapping the shifting pattern of mass media coverage of India by the foreign media and parallelly marking the shifting patterns in investments made by foreign financial institutions in India over the last decade and a half. Design/Methodology/Approach: Top 25 news articles about India reported by The New York Times (NYT), every year, over a span two decades (1991-2010) were taken from the NYT website. The 500 news reports were filtered and news falling in the category of Business and Personal Finance (BPF) were used for content analysis and categorized into three broad types - good, bad, or neutral. Similarly, the investments made by foreign institutions (FII) in India were noted over the same period to explore a correlation between the BPF media reports and the investments made by FIIs in India. Since media reports do not often have an immediate impact, a lag effect of 1 year was checked. The data was statistically validated. Findings: The findings indicate an exponential rise in the number of news items which NYT carried about India over a period of two decades. There was a change in the category of news coverage from 'Arts and Culture' to 'Politics and Business'. The type of news reports changed from neutral to positive and the news reporting was more visually aided with photographs and pictures. A similar pattern was noticed in the foreign investments by institutions, which grew over a period of time. This clearly indicated the existence of a relationship between positive news coverage by independent media and a rise in the amount of investments made by foreign institutions. Research Limitations/Implications: The study was limited to establishing a relationship between media representation and investments by foreign institutions, but the direction and the intensity of the relationship was not established. A lag effect of 1 year was considered. Originality/Value: Observations and comments about India's changing position as a potential economic power and the positive prospect for investments were made, which were empirically validated by the study. The study also brought out one of the factors which positively impacted investments in a developing nation like India.

“Herbal” Supplements Often Not as Advertised

Patients may ask about a study concluding that herbal supplements might not be as herbal as advertised. The findings, published in BMC Medicine , got front-page coverage on the New York Times website. Using DNA analysis, researchers tested the authenticity of 44 products from a dozen companies. The DNA signatures were compared with samples obtained from horticultural greenhouses. The result? …