Anti-Nuclear Movement and Japanese Alternative Media: Content Analysis of Alternative Media Han-genpatsu Shinbun 2011 - 2015
Keywords:
anti-nuclear movement, anti-nuclear alternative media, media content analysis, CNIC, han-genpatsu shinbunAbstract
CNIC or Citizen Nuclear Information Center is a non-profit organization that has been actively for more than four decades carrying out anti-nuclear movement in Japan. One typical of the anti-nuclear movement is the production of anti-nuclear discourse through the alternative media namely Han-genpatsu shinbun. The constructed anti-nuclear discourses do not only serve to advocate anti-nuclear movement, but also to counter the pro-nuclear energy discourse which is generally produced by state authorities or elites. This article aims to analyze topics produced by the above organization, especially after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident from 2011 to 2015. There are 60 editions and hundreds of articles studied by using content analysis methods. As a result, this media constructed topics such as topic of anti-nuclear demonstrations, demands for decommission of the nuclear power plant, the risk of hazardous and radiation of nuclear power plant and the settlement of the Fukushima nuclear power plant dominantly. While the topic on economic growth, the benefits of nuclear energy, environmentally friendly energy, and the availability of electricity supplies generally displayed by mainstream media are rarely mentioned.