Mass Media Coverage on Climate Change Issues and Public Opinion in Japan

Abstract

In this paper, I described the relationship between media coverage and public perception of “the most important issues in Japan” from 2005 to 2013. I used 1) our monthly public opinion survey results, and 2) newspaper coverage data on the March 11, 2013 disaster issue as the representative for all media coverage. I discussed these relationships chronologically. The March 11th earthquake in 2011 occurred in the midst of economically difficult conditions in Japanese society after the 2008 financial shock. After the disaster, the response rate of “the disaster” as well as “economy” and “finance” had been the three highest categories among all responses. I must also refer to the differences between nationally circulated newspapers and local ones. Nationally circulated newspapers have shifted their attention to other issues quicker than local newspapers. Nationally circulated newspapers wrote many articles when the disaster had occurred, but the number of articles soon declined.