News Analysis of the Fukushima Accident

Lack of Information Disclosure, Radiation Fears and Accountability Issues

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6154155
AutoresDragana Lazic (University of Tsukuba, autor correspondente)
Ano2013
Volume12
Fascículo2
Páginas19-34
Data de publicação2013-10-31
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Contemporary Eastern Asia (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2383-9449 • E-ISSN: 2383-9449
EditoraWorld Association for Triple helix and Future strategy studies (PUBLISHER • KR)
DOI10.17477/jcea.2013.12.2.019
OpenAlexW1996998464
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas26

Previous research assessed media reporting on nuclear accidents and risks, whilst studies about the Fukushima accident focused on the impact of the Internet on coverage of the incident. However, little research has addressed news framing or comparisons of the perceptions of journalists in relation to reporting nuclear accidents. The aim of this study is to apply framing analysis to news content in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today about the Fukushima accident. It explores the question of how journalists view reporting on complex events. Content analysis of these three newspapers shows that conflict, responsibility, and economic consequences were the most frequently used frames. According to the journalists interviewed, the biggest problem was the inability to assess information due to contrary positions held by experts. It is argued that the Fukushima accident was framed as a conflict of experts and officials' opinions, utility and government officials' responsibility, and economic consequences for the United States. Adherence to professional norms of objectivity and impartiality was signified as the best approaches to risk reporting

Accountability · Content analysis · Credibility · Framing (construction · Fukushima Nuclear Accident · Impartiality · Impeachment · Journalism · News media · Newspaper · Objectivity (philosophy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Engineering · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Risk Perception and Management