“People Like Us”: News Coverage of Food Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To understand how the public discourse around food assistance and social responsibility evolved during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing news coverage. Methods: We conducted an ethnographic content analysis of news articles and photographs about food insecurity or food assistance published by U.S. newspapers and wire services between December 1, 2019, and November 30, 2020. We analyzed a random sample of 241 articles and 223 photographs to assess how they depicted food assistance programs, the program participants, and whether they included cues for deservingness. Results: Before the pandemic, news about food assistance was dominated by stories about abuse and fraud. Once COVID-19 began, news coverage contained cues known to engender beliefs about the deservingness of people receiving assistance. During the pandemic, news also highlighted misconceptions about food assistance programs, called for policy changes to reduce logistical barriers, and described the plight of families and other “people like us” in need of food assistance. Discussion: News coverage during the pandemic cued audience empathy, highlighted the logistical strains faced by food assistance programs, and elevated values of government accountability. The narrative about society's obligation to care for communities in need can be transferred to other safety net programs that protect the public's health. Health Equity Implications: As the pandemic evolves, public health leaders can maintain the narrative about the importance of food assistance and expand the characteristics of this narrative to challenge well-entrenched, but false, narratives about those who need help.

News media framing of food poverty and insecurity in high-income countries: a rapid review

“…One of these studies found that insecurity was largely defined as inadequate food quantity and that the term ‘holiday hunger’ was commonly used to define the extent and timing of child food poverty ( Yau et al ., 2021 ). One study found few articles (8%) connecting food access and health ( Mejia et al ., 2022 ). Four studies reported newspaper coverage of physical health implications such as obesity and malnutrition ( Henderson and Foley, 2010 ; Knight et al ., 2018 ; Marín-Murillo et al ., 2020 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ).…”

“…Nine out of 10 studies reported findings on the drivers of food poverty and insecurity presented in newspaper coverage. Across most studies, the immediate drivers of food poverty and insecurity were reported as low income ( Wells and Caraher, 2014 ; Knight et al ., 2018 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ; Mejia et al ., 2022 ) and high cost-of-living ( Henderson and Foley, 2010 ; Wells and Caraher, 2014 ; Knight et al ., 2018 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ), resulting in insufficient income ( Wells and Caraher, 2014 ; Knight et al ., 2018 ; Tikka, 2019 ; Price et al ., 2020 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ; Mejia et al ., 2022 ). Newspaper coverage of upstream drivers of food poverty and insecurity, or charitable food aid use were largely governmental ( Wells and Caraher, 2014 ; Knight et al ., 2018 ; Tikka, 2019 ; Price et al ., 2020 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ).…”

“…In one study, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was reported as an upstream driver of increased use of food assistance ( Mejia et al ., 2022 ). This study also found few articles linking structural inequities to food insecurity.…”

“…In two studies, the existence of food poverty and insecurity were presented as incompatible with modern day living, with reference to periods of poverty in British history ( Wells and Caraher, 2014 ; Yau et al ., 2021 ). Recipients of food assistance were presented as mainly families in need ( Marín-Murillo et al ., 2020 ; Smith-Carrier, 2021 ; Mejia et al ., 2022 ), with one study finding more reference to families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic than pre-pandemic ( Mejia et al ., 2022 ). Other studies reported those at risk of food insecurity being presented as the ‘working poor’ ( Yau et al ., 2021 ) and the ‘average Australian’ being impacted by rising food prices ( Henderson and Foley, 2010 ).…”

Assessing the Relationship Between Emergency Food Assistance and Social Vulnerability During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The lower transportation and time costs remove potential barriers to accessing emergency food distribution sites, which also may help explain why the housing and transportation theme is the only social vulnerability theme that is negatively associated with EFT reception. Furthermore, news coverage during the pandemic focused on the challenges and severe needs of disadvantaged community members, along with their deservingness of emergency food assistance (Mejia et al, 2022 ). This news coverage could contribute to higher EFT reception in socially vulnerable neighborhoods, by increasing awareness of available resources and reducing stigma among local residents.…”