Analyzing access: an analysis of food desert coverage during COVID-19

Abstract

This study explored the ways in which food desert coverage was reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the research was to analyze reporting patterns such as themes, use of race, and sourcing practices to understand the journalistic nature of food desert reporting. The analysis found emerging themes that were present in the reporting and journalistic devices that were used to develop the themes. There was a total of 85 articles analyzed from various publications around the United States. This thesis aimed to identify the ways in which food deserts in the United States are covered being that millions of Americans live in these designated areas. The results show that themes centered on financial context, agriculture, community, and vulnerability were present throughout the analysis.