Unique Motivations of the Underserved: Exploring Repertoire, Self-Identified, and Topical News Avoidance Among Black Adults

Abstract

This study examines three forms of news avoidance (repertoire, self-identified, and topical) among Black Americans and the overlap between the different forms. We center African Americans, who are often ignored or stereotyped by mainstream media, to examine their news avoidance practices. Using an online survey administered to U.S. Black adults (N = 1,026) in fall 2023, we compare the prevalence and factors related to a repertoire of minimal news consumption, self-identification as someone who consumes little to no news, and the avoidance of certain news topics (e.g. crime, Black violence, and the 2024 presidential election). While there is overlap among the three forms of avoidance, we find that they are also distinct—with topical avoidance being more common (ranging from 49.7% to 41%), compared to self-identified (31.7%), and repertoire (21.4%). Additionally, the three forms are related to different sets of demographic and motivational factors. Only two variables—age and the joy of missing out (JOMO)—play a significant role across all three forms of news avoidance.