Abstract
Competent and independent (science) journalism is needed not only, but especially in times of crisis. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March 2011 can be viewed as an example of the role and responsibility the professional media has to take on in the age of the digital revolution.
A limited empirical evaluation of German news media coverage during the nuclear emergency response serves as a case study here. By reflecting on decision-making processes at ZEIT ONLINE, being one of the largest platforms for online journalism in the German-speaking countries, five paradoxes and implications are discussed.
Today the ability to report immediately includes the obligation to do so, with all its shortcomings. Journalists have to precisely tell users, readers, and viewers what they know and what they do not know as well as constantly correct mistakes and clarify circumstances.
Additionally, as debunking misinformation can easily strengthen the belief in false facts, accurate and transparent reporting without speculation is essential.
Science and facts can help people make informed decisions when presented in a way that embraces unknowns and explains behavioral patterns. But science cannot only prove a point but also be used to manipulate truth. Therefore, journalists and scientists need to work together—respecting a professional distance—to value their shared asset of credibility.
To report facts truthfully and to report the truth about a fact is a process that has to be refined and adapted constantly.
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Sven Stockrahm is a science journalist, editor, podcaster and staff writer for the German news site ZEIT ONLINE. Since 2018, he is the deputy head of the science, technology, and digital news section. His reporting on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident has been recognized as outstanding achievement by the jury of the German Axel-Springer-Prize in 2012.
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Stockrahm, S. (2019). “Fukushima Live”: About the Role and Responsibility of the Media. In: Steinhauser, G., Koizumi, A., Shozugawa, K. (eds) Nuclear Emergencies. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8327-4_10
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