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

Masudul Biswas; Lori Brost

doi:10.1177/30497841251357977

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

Masudul Biswas, Lori Brost

Journalism and Mass Communication

Central Michigan University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	409-426
Number of pages	18
Journal	Newspaper Research Journal
Volume	46
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/30497841251357977
State	Published - Sep 2025

Keywords

African Americans
Black Press
Covid19
communityjournalism
ethnic media
vaccines

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/30497841251357977

Cite this

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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.",

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AB - 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.

KW - African Americans

KW - Black Press

KW - Covid19

KW - communityjournalism

KW - ethnic media

KW - vaccines

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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