COVID-19 Frames the News: An Examination of Race and Pandemic Frames in Newspaper Coverage

Abstract

During public health crises, newspapers play the significant role of disseminating health information, shaping the public response to public health messaging, and encouraging efficacious risk-reducing behaviors. In conducting this study which explored early news media coverage of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, we analyzed the content of articles from 14 major U.S. newspapers published from January 21, 2020 to September 22, 2020. In addition to identifying the news frames employed by newspapers, including health risks, prevention/education, political/legal issues, economic consequences, societal problems, and medical-scientific issues, we also found alarmist and fear-mongering newspaper coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the impacts of COVID-19 on African American/Black populations and Hispanic/Latino populations in the reviewed articles were mostly framed from the economic loss and societal problem perspectives. Another common observation was the newspaper coverage’s frequent focus on individualist explanations (e.g., health behaviors, lifestyles) for racial differences in COVID-19-related outcomes rather than systematic inequalities. Information concerning solutions to the disparities resulting from the pandemic was also limited. Essentially, our research results highlight how, during times of crisis, it is crucial for news media to convey accurate information to limit, mitigate, and reduce public harm.