Exploring the Prevalence and Meaning of Frontline Work in the COVID-19 Era: Implications for Policy Analysis

Abstract

Frontline workers have gained heightened attention in the news media during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a comparative analysis of New York Times articles referencing frontline work before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis reveals an expansion and diversification of who is on the frontline of public service, with attention to low-wage Black and Brown workers deemed essential to sustaining community infrastructure amidst institutional crisis. media representation of their work, diversity, risk taking, and fragile circumstances is explored. This representation is contrasted with the existing literature, which largely positions these workers as clients of frontline workers. Note: In the interests of space, street-level theory and the pandemic context underpinning the articles for this Special Issue are discussed in detail in the Introduction to the Issue.