Despite consumers reading more online news than ever – driven by a desire for trustworthy content in these times of uncertainty – Covid-19 is posing an unparalleled threat to digital media. Advertisers utilising strict keyword blocking and adding broad coronavirus terms to their blacklists are missing out on the current traffic spike, as well as cutting off vital revenue for publishers.

Concerns about the long-term effects are rising. Following projections of £50 million in...