Conquering the COVID-19 Infodemic

In 2020, as many Black people around the world fought both anti-Black racism and COVID-19, the Black press in the US was dealing with another widespread problem: an infodemic. Editors of Black digital publications were on the frontlines of dispelling racialized misinformation about COVID-19, all while reporting on a contentious presidential election, ongoing protests for racial justice, and a rising COVID-19 death toll that disproportionately affected African Americans. This mixed-methods study—which includes semi-structured interviews in addition to website and social media analyses—explains the top five tactics that Black outlets used to serve as an advocate for, and an adviser to, their communities during its time of dire need. Their strategies provided an editorial slant that challenged anti-Black racism in public discourse and countered misinformation with factual public interest journalism.