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The picture has changed, how about the frame? Media framing of nuclear energy in Japan before and after the Fukushima nuclear disaster

Gherghe, Gabriela-Cosmina (2021) COSM40 20211
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake followed by a 15-meter tsunami and a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi changed the normal course of events in Japan and far beyond it. Among other consequences, the events triggered a sudden increase in domestic and international media coverage. Approaching the theory of media framing, this thesis focused on the evolution of the nuclear energy discourse in two major Japanese newspapers: Asahi Shinbun and Yomiuri Shinbun, with particular stress on the comparison between pre- and post-disaster reporting. After creating an empirical background of the broader coverage trend, three sets of articles representing shorter periods were analysed employing the methodological approach of framing... (More)
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake followed by a 15-meter tsunami and a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi changed the normal course of events in Japan and far beyond it. Among other consequences, the events triggered a sudden increase in domestic and international media coverage. Approaching the theory of media framing, this thesis focused on the evolution of the nuclear energy discourse in two major Japanese newspapers: Asahi Shinbun and Yomiuri Shinbun, with particular stress on the comparison between pre- and post-disaster reporting. After creating an empirical background of the broader coverage trend, three sets of articles representing shorter periods were analysed employing the methodological approach of framing analysis. The results indicate that a general preference for a ‘neutral’ tone was demonstrated by both newspapers, with just a slightly ‘anti-nuclear’ approach for Asahi and ‘pro-nuclear’ for Yomiuri. Overall, the two newspapers evolved from having a moderately perceptible difference in coverage and tone before the nuclear accident to an increasingly apparent balance in the selected periods after the accident. In terms of frames, the results are more nuanced, revealing differences not only between the two outlets but also among the three selected periods. (Less)
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author
Gherghe, Gabriela-Cosmina
supervisor
organization
course
COSM40 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Media framing, Framing analysis, Thematic analysis, Fukushima, Nuclear power, Japan
language
English
id
9058825
date added to LUP
2021-06-24 14:04:54
date last changed
2021-08-19 10:28:44
@misc{9058825,
  abstract     = {{On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake followed by a 15-meter tsunami and a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi changed the normal course of events in Japan and far beyond it. Among other consequences, the events triggered a sudden increase in domestic and international media coverage. Approaching the theory of media framing, this thesis focused on the evolution of the nuclear energy discourse in two major Japanese newspapers: Asahi Shinbun and Yomiuri Shinbun, with particular stress on the comparison between pre- and post-disaster reporting. After creating an empirical background of the broader coverage trend, three sets of articles representing shorter periods were analysed employing the methodological approach of framing analysis. The results indicate that a general preference for a ‘neutral’ tone was demonstrated by both newspapers, with just a slightly ‘anti-nuclear’ approach for Asahi and ‘pro-nuclear’ for Yomiuri. Overall, the two newspapers evolved from having a moderately perceptible difference in coverage and tone before the nuclear accident to an increasingly apparent balance in the selected periods after the accident. In terms of frames, the results are more nuanced, revealing differences not only between the two outlets but also among the three selected periods.}},
  author       = {{Gherghe, Gabriela-Cosmina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The picture has changed, how about the frame? Media framing of nuclear energy in Japan before and after the Fukushima nuclear disaster}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}