Open AccessExamining U.S. Newspapers’ Effects on COVID-19 Infection Rates Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Author(s) -
Zhan Xu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
health equity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2473-1242
DOI - 10.1089/heq.2021.0142
Subject(s) - ethnic group , newspaper , public health , pandemic , context (archaeology) , health equity , political science , covid-19 , medicine , disease , geography , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , law , archaeology
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reveals health disparities in the United States. News media are expected to play a major role in reducing racial/ethnic disparities. Methods: Guided by agenda-setting theory in the context of health promotion and the structural approach of media effects, this study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 newspaper articles about racial/ethnic minorities on minorities' infection rates in the early stages of the pandemic, while controlling for social determinants of health (SDOHs). Results: Racial/ethnic minorities are underrepresented in COVID-19 newspaper articles, although newspapers' attention to racial/ethnic minorities' health increased over time. Public exposure to newspaper articles about racial/ethnic minorities was the only significant factor that predicted infection rates among general racial/ethnic minorities. The more the general public in the United States was exposed to related newspaper articles, the lower the infection rates among general racial/ethnic minorities would be. The impacts of SDOHs varied across different racial/ethnic minority groups. Blue states were more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 newspaper articles about racial/ethnic minorities than red states. Discussion: Findings suggest that news exposure to any racial/ethnic group can benefit all minorities. Findings also demonstrate the influence of media agenda on public agenda and policy agenda regarding minority health.