A unique report on the post Fukushima ‘apocalyptic’ media frenzy has been released today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 24, 2011 -- WORLDbytes, the online citizen TV channel, has today launched a report entitled “After Fukushima: The Fear Factor”, which questions the media’s disproportionate emphasis on Japan’s nuclear incident.

The 'apocalyptic' media frenzy post Fukushima which displaced the real disaster story and horrific loss of life wrought by the earthquake & tsunami, sickened Japanese born Mari Shibata. Along with WORLDbytes volunteers she investigates the fear factor. Why did a nuclear incident affecting only a small area fuel global meltdown stories? In an interview with the Director of the Science Media Centre we learn of news values shaped by a concern to terrify people, journalists removed from stories for being too measured and scientists accused of lying for the money. Granted unique access to Oldbury, the oldest nuclear power station in the world, we discover how seriously safety is taken and due to fears of terrorism post 9/11 its tragic shut down to visitors. Through talking to Mari’s relatives in Japan we also hear of the progress being made to clear up the real mess made by a natural disaster, a story neglected by the Western media.

WORLDbytes Director Ceri Dingle said today “If Mari Shibata’s story teaches us anything, its how damaging fear can be. Nuclear fears led to massively exaggerated reporting and a proliferation of scare stories suggesting global nuclear catastrophe. The death toll, human nightmare and human needs resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan were effectively cast aside. Nuclear power plants have even been closed or put in jeopardy in Europe due to needless alarmism and thus much needed energy provision undermined. Fear of terrorism has even made the public’s ability to understand safety issues by seeing inside a Nuclear Power station impossible in the UK. This report suggests we should never let fear dictate what we can know and understand. Alarmist politicians and the media certainly need challenging for what they have been responsible for in this instance”.

The report “After Fukushima: The Fear factor” is available to watch on WORLDbytes at:
http://www.worldbytes.org/after-fukushima-the-fear-factor/
WORLDbytes welcomes reproduction, embedding and sharing of this report.
For more information and interviews contact:
Ceri Dingle or Viv Regan at: info@worldbytes.org Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 5435

Notes to editors:

WORLDbytes is a unique online Citizen TV channel featuring reports and programmes created by young volunteers learning to shoot 'on the job'. Its programmes aim to get behind the headlines and promote a people-first perspective on a wide-range of issues. The channel's credo is "don't shout at the telly, change the message on it".

WORLDbytes is run by the education charity WORLDwrite, registered charity number 1060869. The charity champions quality citizen reporting and provides free film training to make this possible. The charity's website address is www.worldwrite.org.uk

WORLDwrite has an open door policy and encourages all-comers to get involved and recognise there are no limits to what's possible.
For more general information, please visit: www.worldwrite.org.uk & www.worldbytes.org

energy     Fukushima     japan     nuclear power     radiation