Mass media communication of emergency issues and countermeasures in a nuclear accident: Fukushima reporting in European newspapers

Eduardo Gallego, Marie Claire Cantone, Deborah Oughton, Tanja Perko, Iztok Prezelj, Yevgeniya Tomkiv

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper presents the results of a large study of 1340 articles published by two major newspapers in six European countries (Belgium, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and Russia) in the first 2 months after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The focus of the analysis is on the application and overall impact of protective actions, both during the emergency phase and later, how the newspapers describe those actions, which differences were apparent between countries and what recommendations can be extracted in order to improve general communication about these issues. A clear lesson is that, even under uncertainty and recognising limitations, responsible authorities need to provide transparent, clear and understandable information to the public and the mass media right from the beginning of the early phase of any nuclear emergency. Clear, concise messages should be given. Mass media could play a key role in reassuring the public if the countermeasures are clearly explained.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)163-169
    Number of pages7
    JournalRadiation protection dosimetry
    Volume173
    Issue number1-3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Apr 2017
    Event14th IRPA World Congress : "Practising Radiation Protection:Sharing the Experience and New Challenges" - Cape Town International Convention Centre, Capte Town
    Duration: 9 May 201613 May 2016
    http://www.irpa2016capetown.org.za/

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