I'm currently writing on my thesis in International Relation, and for my topic I chose to write about last years earthquake in Tohoku focusing on media and their coverage of the disaster. Last week I turned in the first abstract of my paper, but since this version was limited to around 2000 words it does not quite reflect all the work I've done so far.
Still, if anybody has any comments/advices/possible sources etc, I'd be very happy if you'd leave me a comment;)





1 Introduction 
1.1 Background
Japan experienced an unprecedented disaster 11. March 2011 when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the northern part of the main island Honshu[1]. Despite preparation to handle rough earthquakes, the force of the following tsunami was unpredictable. As a consequence of breakwaters failure to stop the approximately ten meter high wave, the northeastern Tōhoku region was devastated. Additionally critical damage was sustained to a reactor in Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant. An explosion, hypothetically causing what some referred to as a “second Chernobyl”[2], was feared but eventually avoided. The Great East Japan earthquake has been announced 20^th century’s fourth largest[3], and caused what Japanese Prime Minister describes as Japan’s most difficult crisis since World War II[4]. 

1.2 Problem Description
In this thesis medias role during the period after the earthquake will be discussed, with the purpose of answering the following research question:What role did the media play in the aftermaths of the Great East Japan Earthquake?
There has already been published many books and articles about media’s role after the Tōhoku earthquake, but these mainly concentrates on Japanese media, and especially the role of social media. The aim with this thesis is however to look at the catastrophe on an international scale, and see how the mass media and the social media reported the situation in Tōhoku to the rest of the world.Literature studies will be conducted to look deeper into media’s methods of coverage, with focus on published books, articles and newspapers. Further, differences in coverage between Japanese and international media will be enlightened. However, the latter will mainly be constrained to news published in English. Trips to the Tōhoku area will be carried out in order to take a look at actual damages, and additionally to carry out interviews with local and international volunteers. The reason for choosing Tōhoku volunteers as focus group is to determine whether their perception of the media differs according to their backgrounds.This thesis aims to provide new insights to the role of media in the wake of natural disasters.

2 General Concepts 
2.1 Mass Media
When it comes to people’s perception of natural disasters it is crucial to look to the media, because of the influence it has on people. According to Wimmer and Dominick (2010), mass media refers to“Any form of communication that simultaneously reaches a large number of people, including but not limited to radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, billboards, films, recordings, books, and the internet” (p. 2). Their definition is however partly problematic, as this thesis consequently separate the mass media from the social media. Media has a unique position to transmit information to the public, and it is thus desirable that recipients of this information critically evaluate media’s role in society. However, through their research McDonald and Lenz (2011) found that between 10 to 25 percent of readers are being influenced by what they read in the newspapers. They thus conclude that the media also might have a very persuasive effect on the public (Ibid). However, there are cases where the veracity of the media can be questioned. Harcup (2009) claims that although journalists aim to tell the truth there are cases where they fail to do so. One reason for this is that despite journalists themselves aiming for objective reporting, various social filters might influence unconsciously (Herman & Chomsky, 1988). Other factors such as time pressure might lower quality of reportage, for instance when presented facts aren’t thoroughly checked (Harcup, 2009). On the other hand Harcup (Ibid) focuses on the interviewed subjects, stating that they sometimes are incorrect, or even lying. Tsuda (2011) believes that two main factors might lead people to dislike mass media. First comes the biased media case, where information provided might seem artificial. Secondly comes medias tendency to follow each other, such as taking the same stance in the face of unprecedented or shocking events. Some might feel that news do not cover all necessary information, while others perceive them as manipulated (Ibid). 

2.2 Social media
Differing from earlier natural disasters such as the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 is the use of social media. While the traditional media can be seen as one-sided, social media on the other hand has the power to engage its readers and invite them to participate in a mutual dialogue (Hansen, Shneiderman and Smith, 2001).Daisuke Tsuda (2011) points to five essential attributes of social media. First is the concept of real time: people can respond immediately to occurrences around them, through Social Network Services (SNS) such as Facebook and Twitter, and thus share their thoughts or opinions with anyone (p. 364). Shocking news are more likely to be spread and read by a large number of people, and this thus creates hot topics (p. 365). His second concept is that of sympathy, or cooperation. People can share all sorts of emotions through SNS and get responses on their options. Tsuda points out that even misunderstandings and negative responses can lead to dialog, and through dialog to cooperation or sympathy between users (p. 365).This again, leads to a fourth point: social media’s openness. Anyone can participate in discussions and thus get their opinions heard. It is easy to participate, but it is also easy to pull out. Lastly, Tsuda talks about process, and states that the limited length of SNS messages gives such social media its designated form. This can again lead to a dialog where short and concise messages are being transmitted easily between users, and the discussion evolves as people respond (p. 366). Tachiiri (2011) points out that since social media is interactive, it creates a bond between its users. Through social media people can support each other or engage in fierce discussions (Ibid, p. 21). Unlike the mass media, social media gives people the chance to speak up or get heard (p.23), and responses can come fast (Ibid, p.22). While mass media is carefully edited and held back by sponsors, the social media does not face such regulation (Ibid, p.23). However, Steve Jobs, founder of world-renowned manufacturer Apple, questions the reliability of social media, stating “we can’t depend on bloggers for our news. We need real reporting and editorial oversight more than ever” (Isaacson, 2011). In opposition to a blog, where anybody can write anything, the journalist has to actually collect the relevant information while carefully considering the sources used. At the same time, in the case of the mass media measures are being taken to ensure that what is being published corresponds to the actual described occurrences.News spread fast, and at times social media might even be more up to date than the mass media (Tachiiri, 2011: p. 23). This might be taken as a sign that the social media plays a more important role in spreading news to the people than traditional media. However, as Schultz, Utz and Göritz (2011) have found, news are being talked about more than tweets or blog posts. This might indicate that although social media can transmit news faster, traditional mass media still is considered a more reliable source for news. 

3 Problem Description 
3.1 Mass Media and the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake
In the wake of the disaster in Japan, media all over the world reported about the incident. Although it meant that people all over the world could stay up-to-date on the events in Japan, there were also critics claiming that the foreign media was exaggerating the danger of the situation in Japan[5]There are various problems related to this type of journalism. For instance, in the period after the earthquake a lot of foreigners decided to escape Japan as a result of panic, leaving the Japanese with the new expression ”fly-jin”, a term describing the foreigners, gaijin, fleeing from Japan[6].Anther problem with this type of reporting is that it can complicate the early recovery process (Huang & Min, 2002; Milo & Yoder, 1991).Two factors, which in particularly have had an effect on the way news spreads across boarders, are globalization and the information revolution. Globalization, which Nye (2007) defines as a “worldwide network of interdependence”, can make occurrences in one geographical make the headlines in other parts of the globe. Following globalization comes the so-called information revolution: from 1993 to the end of the decade the number of Internet pages across the world rose from about 50 to over 5 million, and the global usage of Internet went up 170 percent between 2000 and 2005 (Nye, 2007). As an effect of this, news can be shared over greater distances at shorter speed, and with this global interdependence network what happens on the other side of the world also affects us to a greater extent than previously. 

3.1.1 International Media
(Currently writing) 

3.1.2 Japanese mediaJapanese media was also subjected to criticism related to their coverage. Gouhara (2011) argue that media cooperated with Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) already before the accident, and that they deluded the public into believing nuclear power was safe by oversimplifying the emergency process of closing down power plants. Uesugi (2011) further claims that Tepco and the Japanese Government influenced mass media to hold back information regarding damages and nuclear leaks at Fukushima Daiichi. This claim is grounded on initial exclusivity for press club members to participate in Tepco’s press conferences, which Uesugi suggests limited critical questioning. Press clubs, or kisha clubs, were first time introduced by a small number of reporters in 1890, and the initial purpose was to allow members participation in Imperial Diet meetings. Today, however, press clubs plays a central role in communication between media and government/authorities. Critics claim that the exclusivity of membership is excluding, particularly to foreign reporters, magazine writers and freelance journalists[7]. Supporters of the Japanese press clubs disagree, saying that magazine members and freelance journalists are focusing on getting flashy quotes, and thus might interfere with the conferences[8]. However, considering Tepco annually supports commercial broadcasting with 20 billion yen (Uesugi, 2011), Japanese mass media’s reluctance to put negative focus on nuclear energy is not too shocking. An example here is the many anti-nuclear demonstrations: Iwaki (2011) claims the media either downplayed their significance, or simply avoided writing about the topic. Although Japanese media faces critics for a claimed lack of consistency and concealing information concerning the incidents in Fukushima[9], considering the unprecedented nature of the crisis it is still arguable that　Japanese media did their best.　Ending the International Journalist Symposium 2012, The Mainichi Newspapers Senior Editorial Writer Hiroshi Fuse stated that despite last years disaster burdening Japan he believe that ”the role of the media is not only to deliver accurate information but also lead discussions so that we can move forward in the right direction” (MOFA, 2012). 

4. Methods
A qualitative research was conducted in November 2011, and the focus group was people working as voluntaries in affected areas of Tohoku. Although all subjects come from different backgrounds, they are linked together through their volunteer work. It is logical to believe that individuals who has made a decision to work as a volunteer in this area must have done a certain amount of research before going there, and thus the purpose of these interviews is get a clearer view of how people affected by the reports of the media perceived the coverage. My ontological perspective is that of critical realism, as developed by Roy Bhaskar (Archer et al, 2004): I believe that people are capable, and that I thus can extract pertinent information from their experiences through my interviews. 

5. Future priorities
-Conduct more trips to Tōhoku in order to interview more people. Time and lenght depends of recovery of my shoulder, which I broke in an accident in spring-break.-Strengthen the academic aspect of the paper  

Schultz, F; Utz, S; Göritz, A (2011). Is the media the message? Perceptions of and reactions to crisis

communication via twitter, blogs and traditional media. Public Relations Review, Volume 37, Issue 1, March 2011, Pages 20-27

"Golden week" might not make any sense to you unless you somehow are familiar with Japan or Japanese holidays. For that is exactly what it is, unbelievable as it seems, a whole week of Japanese holiday.
As a Norwegian I must admit that I'm used to long holidays, both during summer, winter and a couple of weeks in between. In Japan, as you might already know, this is however not the case. Especially for people who have started working there are not to many times during the year where they actually have enough days in a row to take what you could call a real holiday. Supposedly that is why the Golden Week is such a "golden" thing: give them a week off and they are basically in the seventh sky. Along with the prices for hotels, transportation tickets and number of people in that temple you wanted to visit, because they seem to skyrock too.
I would also have liked to have a nice and long Golden Week without any school at all, as is the practice for most Japanese schools. But Ritsumeikan is known as a university where you get few holidays, and for good reasons. This year our "golden week" gives us a total of two days vacation from school, and in return we have to make up for the lost classes by coming to school a couple of Saturdays in May. I don't know about you, but I do not find that all too golden to be honest..
But there is still one aspect of Golden Week that makes it live up to its name. The fact that one gets the chance to spend time with their loved ones. Tomorrow my boyfriend, who has been working in Ibaraki since the beginning of April, will come to spend his GW in Kyoto. There is absolutely nothing that could have made my Golden Week more Golden then that. <3

Have a super Golden Week!

Golden sunset in Japan..!

Me and Marcus doing bridal modeling in Gion, Kyoto. Photographer: Yuuki Kuwabata

In the modern society it seems that a lot of us are stressing around, either it is school or work that is demanding our time there is simply always something that needs to be done. Even when one has decided to learn a new language it is not always easy to find the time or the right method to actually go through with it, and therefore I have collected some of my favorite ways of learning languages in this post, in hope that it might benefit some of my readers as well.

1. Use your useless time
My father always told me that the ones that gets really good at something, are the ones who practices when others don't. Do you want to learn a new language, but feel that you don't have time? Well, then let me ask you this: Don't you commute to school/work almost every day? Do you clean your house? Do you cook your own dinner? If your answer is yes to any of these questions it means that you certainly have time to learn a foreign language too. All you need, is a listening device, such as an iPod. There are many good programs out there, both pricey ones such as Pimsleur, but also totally free ones too. If you have access to iTunes you should check out their language learning podcasts, which comes in many different languages.
Exchange the music on your iPod for a language podcast, and you can start learning a new language right away!

2. Have fun with it!
There are many ways you can add a bit of language learning to time that would otherwise have been waisted. You can easily use a fun activity, such as watching a movie, to learn a language. Avoid dubbed movies, and go for the real thing! If you need subtitles at first, that's of course fine. It will still make you used to hear the new language, and eventually you will start recognizing words as well. When I was younger I liked to watch English movies with English subtitles. That way I could hear the English words at the same time as I could see how they were written. Nowadays I use http://www.cuevana.tv to watch English dramas with Spanish subtitles, and it gives me a satisfaction knowing that I can pick up new words at the same time I'm enjoying for example a new episode of How I Met Your Mother..

3. Get a tutor!
Learning a new language can be even more fun if you have a friend or a tutor who can help you a bit along the way. Especially if you are in a country where you don't have the chance to practice your desired language on a daily basis, it might be a good thing to get to know somebody who is fluent in the language you want to learn, so that you can ask him/her questions or even have somebody to talk to in the other language. If, however, there is no such person in your vicinity, then don't panic - there is still hope. Livemocha is another great Internet page where you can practice new languages at the same time as you have the chance to communicate with other members from all over the world. This gives you an unique opportunity to get to know people who are willing to help you getting better in whichever language you are interested in.!

4. Drill the vocabulary
However, sooner or later you have to face the fact that you need a lot of vocabulary in order to speak another language. For some languages this part might be easy, especially a lot of European languages are related, and if you already are fluent in Spanish you'll probably find learning French, Italian or Portuguese just a few steps away. However, there will still be new words to learn, and if you - like me - are aiming at completely different languages such as Japanese, Korean or Chinese, then you definitely should make sure you have a good flashcard-program to drill the new words.
Here I would recommend Mnemosyne, which might seem like a normal flashcard program, but where you can rate your answers from 1-6, and the program will automatically repeat the words you are bad at more often. For those out there with iPhone etc, check out the iSRS-application.
With these programs it is possible both making your own flashcards, or to download ready-made vocabulary packs from Mnemosyne's Internet page.

5. Don't be afraid to speak up!
..Which might be easier said then done for a lot of people out there. But the truth is, NOBODY becomes fluent in a foreign language without making mistakes along the way. Just admit it, you will make mistakes along the way whether you like it or not. If you don't try, you'll never make it.


Do you have any other advices for learning foreign languages, or do you simply have a comment about the learning methods mentioned above? Either way, please don't hesitate to leave me a comment!
(^o^)／