African American newspapers’ coverage of COVID-19 vaccines: An analysis of news frames

Abstract

This study has examined the news framing of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 by African American newspapers publishing from U.S. metropolitan areas with large Black populations. Using a content analysis method on 351 stories published, this research has identified the use of five news frames in the news coverage of COVID-19 vaccines. A solution-oriented responsibility frame dominated the overall news coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine when the vaccination rate was relatively lower among the Black community.

Keywords

vaccines African Americans Black Press ethnic media

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