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Contenido archivado el 2022-12-23

The role of trust in radiological emergency reporting: Mass media, Authorities, and Public Opinion

Objetivo

a) To perform a content analysis in all four countries -Russia, Belarus Sweden, Norway, of the printed mass media (newspapers) and Internets news bulletin coverage of the Kursk accident and the incident occurring May 5th 1998 in Murmansk;
b) To investigate authority sources and journalist's point of view on how to inform the public in radiological emergencies, exemplified by two incidents involving nuclear submarines. This will be studied for authority sources and journalists by use of an interview or postal questionnaire. A special focus will be on how to enhance the trust among the public in official information. Evaluation of coverage in other countries will be gathered. c) To arrange workshops in which relevant authority spokespersons and journalists will be brought together discuss these issues.

Description of the research activities:

The proposal has three main parts:
1) To establish the mass media "coverage" in four countries of two selected incidents involving radiological emergency aspects (one incident in Murmansk May 5th 1998, the Kursk accident August 12th 2000);
2) To survey "relevant" authorities and journalists about "the optimisation of the risk communication process towards the public" in situations similar to these two incidents. What "went wrong", what was "effective" in they way them themselves participated in the coverage? Then confront them with and ask to comment on the material gathered in 1) and two give their "recommendations" for areas of improvement;
3) Bring authority spokespersons and journalists together to discuss the differences and similarities in their objectives and roles. Using output from part 2 as input to the seminars (the major focus to have these seminars in NIS countries, not in INTAS).
Expected results:
1. By action research try to work with, and try to enhance the interaction between authorities, journalists and the public within the field of radiological emergencies;
2. Three scientific articles (2 in Russian and 1 in English) and information materials for journalists;
3. The project ongoing content and results will be continuously made available at an Internet site rented for this purpose;
4) The extensive study of authorities spokespersons and journalist will give further insight into the process of emergency risk communication in the media in NIS countries.

The findings about the authority sources, how they use mass media for their purposes, and in turn how the journalist applies them will shed more light on the interactive process between the authorities, the mass media and the public.

Convocatoria de propuestas

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Régimen de financiación

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Coordinador

Radiation Medicine Department
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
Kirkeveien 166
0407 Oslo
Noruega

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Coste total
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Participantes (3)