Anti-Cancer and Anti-Smoking in Australian Migrant Newspaper, 1930s-1960s

Description

This paper explores and compares anti-smoking and anti-cancer messages in Australia’s migrant press, with migrant community newspapers being of focus, between the 1930s-60s. It additionally investigates the ways in which smoking was advertised and promoted to migrant communities through their newspapers, contrasts this with the increasing prevalence of anti-smoking and broader anti-cancer messages, and explores the shift in advertising and messages following the growing research linking smoking and cancer (particularly lung cancer) from 1950. These messages were ultimately tied to this growing research, as well as the various Australian state and national anti-cancer campaign committees who emphasised early diagnosis and swift treatment as the best method to combat a range of cancers. These discussions also reflected the momentum around the eventual national approach to cancer control, which stemmed from research and anti-cancer campaigns. Greek language newspapers (notably To Ethnico Vema) form an important case study, however, other foreign-language and migrant community papers are also consulted comparatively.

Period	3 Jul 2025
Event title	Australian Historical Association Conference 2025: Looking Up
Event type	Conference
Location	Townsville, Australia, QueenslandShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National