NEW YORK (AP) — Heidi Van Roekel makes instructional art videos for YouTube when coronavirus news overwhelms her. Bill Webb takes his boat out. Stacy Mitchell searches her TV for something — anything — to make her laugh.

Paradoxically, Kevin Reed, a software designer from Kenmore, Washington, has binged "The Walking Dead" after turning off the news. He'd rather watch fake, flesh-eating zombies than a real-life pandemic.

It's no surprise that news outlets are in demand with a story that directly affects so many people, whether they've gotten sick, lost jobs or are locked down at home. A Pew Res...