Framing Differences in Reports on Japan’s Discharge of Nuclear Wastewater: A Comparative Analysis of The New York Times and China Daily

Abstract

Since Chornobyl, nuclear disasters have long overshadowed global environmental concerns. Recently, the discharge of nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan has reignited discussions on such incidents’ environmental and geopolitical implications. In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station was severely damaged, accumulating radioactive-contaminated water used to cool the reactors. In August 2023, Japan began discharging nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This paper aims to analyze and compare the reports of China Daily and The New York Times on this issue. China Daily is China’s state-owned mainstream media dedicated to reporting news to English-speaking countries, while The New York Times is one of the most influential media in the United States. Through framing theory, this paper will use different frameworks to showcase how these two media outlets try to influence people’s perception of Japan’s discharge of nuclear wastewater and the geopolitical landscape.