Why did the JHU dashboard gain immense trust as a default resource for policymakers?

Because the institution, Johns Hopkins, possesses deep authority in public health.

The widespread reliance and trust placed in the JHU dashboard, particularly by reporters and policymakers seeking non-partisan updates, was heavily influenced by institutional authority. In the absence of a centralized global reporting mechanism, the fact that an academically grounded dashboard was spearheaded by Johns Hopkins—an institution renowned for its deep authority and history in public health—lent significant credibility to the presented data. This academic grounding proved vital in combating an environment that was heavily saturated with misinformation and unreliable sources during the crisis.