Instrumentalizing Fukushima: Comparing Media Coverage of Fukushima in Germany,France, the United Kingdom,and Switzerland

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.     

论涉法新闻报道的规制——以无罪推定为视角

涉法新闻报道作为司法与传媒的交界领域,对无罪推定原则的认识和贯彻还存在缺失和不足。随着近年来各种形式的媒体技术,特别是自媒体的出现,使得舆论对司法的影响与日俱增,涉法新闻报道领域对无罪推定原则的无视与侵犯已日益成为影响司法公正和社会稳定的负面因素。文章聚集涉法新闻报道中涉及无罪推定原则的情况,讨论在新闻报道中如何正确应用无罪推定原则和背离无罪推定原则可能造成的危害,以及尝试从涉法新闻报道的规制角度,探讨如何在贯彻无罪推定原则的前提下形成新闻报道与司法公正的良性互动。在新闻报道中应当尊重无罪推定原则,需要明确媒体的社会责任,确保司法透明,对涉法新闻报道应当依法进行规范,可以通过立法授权司法机关对新闻报道案件情况加以限制,还需要赋予法院对其审理案件相关新闻报道活动进行规制的权力。     

Index to Volume 32 2002-2003

Cultural and media policy have remained largely distinct fields of research, policymaking, and policy advocacy in the United States. There are, however, significant areas of overlap between these two areas that have not been fully explored. The author examines the linkages between the two fields, covering the traditional lines of demarcation that have separated them; contemporary developments that compel stronger overlap in terms of their substantive areas of concern; the shared, normative principles between the two areas; the benefits of a tighter integration of cultural and media policy; and specific mechanisms for developing stronger linkages between them.