May 2011
What Was Reported by Television on March 11th
Program Studies
This article focuses on what was reported by television when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11th, during the first ten minutes after the tremor and the following two hours.
Television’s role is extremely significant right after an earthquake or tsunami disaster. The authors reviewed initial responses of TV broadcasters when and after the earthquake occurred. NHK and all commercial network broadcasters in Tokyo were ready prepared for earthquake/tsunami coverage in eight minutes, at the latest, after the quake.
The following two hours, a slot before regular evening news, were ceaselessly dedicated to disaster reports that came in one after another from each affected area as the disaster progresses. Approximate 30 minutes after the first tremor, giant tsunami waves at several northern Japan ports were reported live. Before 4 p.m., footage capturing the big tsunami engulfing not only bay areas but also houses and cars in inner areas along the coastline.
The commercial broadcasters did not insert any commercials that evening, and all stations aired the earthquake/tsunami coverage without stopping. Night-time news also featured local information in Kanto area including stranded office workers in Tokyo. At the same time, grave news on Fukushima nuclear power plant came in. Thus, broadcasts on the disaster gradually became diversified, revealing the “wide spectrum” and “complexity” of this particular disaster.