Cancer Diagnosis and Health Insurance

On February 15, 2008 the New York Times published an article on a new study examining the factors which affect cancer diagnosis. The results of the study suggested that cancer patients who are uninsured, insured by Medicaid or are African American (even when taking into account higher rates of uninsured African Americans) are likely to be diagnosed at a later stage than other cancer patients.

Though the article presents a study which clearly suggests that better insuring the American people would lower cancer rates, the author remains objective throughout the article, reporting only the facts of the study. This is an example of how old media, as Baym argues, are required to report only the he said-she said of an issue without appearing critical or losing objectivity.