Get the news on physical activity research: a content analysis of physical activity research in the Canadian print media.
BACKGROUND
News media may play a critical role in disseminating research about physical activity and health. This study examined how much physical activity research gets reported in the media and its prominence and credibility.


METHODS
A content analysis was conducted of the reporting of physical activity research in Canadian national and local newspapers from November 2004 to April 2005.


RESULTS
Physical activity research was given some prominence and treated as news through the use of several devices to infer credibility. However, newspapers appeared to invest little in the production of physical activity research as news and information about research methodology was infrequent.


CONCLUSIONS
While stories reporting physical activity research were given some prominence and credibility, the lack of significant investment and the limited reporting on research methodology suggests that important aspects of research related to physical activity may not be well represented in newspaper coverage.
Faulkner
Guy
G
Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Finlay
Sara-Jane
SJ
Roy
Stephannie C
SC
D015706:Bibliometrics; D002170:Canada; D015444:Exercise; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D009524:Newspapers as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*