Instrumentalizing Fukushima: Comparing Media Coverage of Fukushima in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kepplinger, Hans Mathias; Lemke, Richard
• Is Part Of: Political communication. Volume 33:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: instrumental actualization -- mediatized conflicts -- nuclear energy -- media as political actors -- content analysis -- nuclear phase out -- Fukushima news coverage; Communication -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; Communication in politics -- Periodicals; 306.205
• DOI: 10.1080/10584609.2015.1022240
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4609

Abstract

Abstract : According to the theory of instrumental actualization in mediated conflicts, the mass media tend to exaggerate events consistent with the editorial line. This theory was tested using press coverage in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom on the Japanese seaquake, the tsunami it caused, and the nuclear disaster of Fukushima. Within a period of seven weeks after the seaquake, the coverage in the four countries in 27 national newspapers and magazines on the three events was analyzed. As hypothesized from theory, German and Swiss media concentrated on Fukushima and stressed its relevance to domestic nuclear plants, whereas French and British media placed a greater emphasis on the tsunami and rarely related the nuclear catastrophe in Japan to domestic nuclear programs. In addition, there were remarkable correlations between the views of journalists and the bias of statements on nuclear energy presented in their news sections. Findings are discussed and related to the theory of public opinion and political decisions in liberal democracies.