Analysis of Japanese News Coverage on Bioterrorism and Framing of Authority and Collectivism.* Y. Sakurauchi and Y. Sato, Portland State University
This study analyzes how Japanese news coverage reflects authority and collectivism in Japan against the backdrop of a United States bioterrorist threat. Specifically the study examines news coverage of bioterrorism (following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) in Japanese mainstream press. The study entails a census of articles from three mainstream Japanese newspapers (English versions of the Daily Yomiuri, Asahi News Service, and Mainichi Daily News) from September 11 through November 11. Twenty-eight articles were examined for framing of bioterrorism. Through both quantitative and qualitative framing analyses, the researchers analyze how news coverage tells stories to Japanese readers. For example, "risk" is mentioned rarely, but "fear" is mentioned with relative frequency. Fearful stories offered little concrete evidence of true public fear: rather, statements referred to "fearful publics" without mentioning specific details. Indeed, stories reflected a third-person explanation of fear.
Many articles resorted to the use of hyperbole, which the authors argue might provide a biased—a more fearful view—to readers. Unlike newspaper accounts in the United States, which frequently employ personalization in news, only two of the 28 articles employed personalization, perhaps reflecting a greater tendency in Japanese press to focus on collectivism. Many stories offered solutions to the bioterrorism threat: more than 100 mentions included solution frames. Yet, many solutions were deemed vague, offering readers no concrete solutions to bioterrorism. The authors conclude that bioterrorism coverage in Japanese press following September 11 include groundless, exaggerated and fearful statements accompanied by vague solutions, thus potentially resulting in fearful responses by Japanese readers.
*Student Travel Award.
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