L Rademan, M Joubert
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. With increasing reliance on online media for health information, the proliferation of cancer-related misinformation poses a significant threat to informed health decisions. Therefore, this study investigated the presence of misinformation in cancer reporting via South African online news media.A content analysis was conducted on 431 cancer-related articles published between 2013 and 2022 across the eight most popular South African online news sites. The findings provide insight into how misinformation manifests in online cancer reporting. While most articles adhered to generally high journalistic standards, exaggerated claims about miracle cures, herbal remedies, and alternative treatments were common and often poorly substantiated. Encouragingly, many articles also actively challenged false claims, highlighting the media's potential role in promoting evidence-based health communication.This study provides one of the first empirical baselines for understanding cancer-related misinformation in South African online news media. It underscores the need to uphold high standards of journalistic integrity and accuracy in health reporting, while highlighting the crucial role of healthcare professionals, researchers, and institutions in supporting evidence-based coverage. The findings further emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement of media practices, as well as addressing systemic barriers that limit meaningful engagement between researchers and the media in efforts to counter misinformation.