What are African Aamericans being told about the PSA exam?: a content analysis of the media coverage on the prostate cancer screening debate

Prostate cancer is the second-most diagnosed and common cause of cancer death among men in the United States and the primary screening/early detection method, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) exam, is not completely reliable. Despite its prevalence, if prostate cancer is diagnosed early enough, it is highly treatable. This study uses two samples of mass media coverage, the 2010 calendar year and October December 2011, to examine how the prostate cancer screening debate plays out in the media most consumed by African American males over 40 based on framing theory using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results indicate that the media coverage of prostate cancer screening is largely neutral but there are significant differences between media outlets in the way the debate is framed. Implications, limitations, and future research are also discussed.