June 2012
Analyzing Keywords Used in the Initial News Reports of the Great East Japan Earthquake
Hiroyuki Inoue
What expressions did TV stations use in order to urge people to evacuate from tsunami at the Great East Japan Earthquake? The author investigated the usage frequency of the following ten keywords in the initial tsunami coverage by six Tokyo-based TV stations: “evacuate,” “keep away from,” “flee,” “do not approach,” “do not go,” “alert,” “caution,” “attention,” “large tsunami,” and “danger.” As a result, it was shown each broadcaster had different preferences for phrases such as “please evacuate” and “please flee.” The difference in the frequently-used expressions indicates that each station has a “fixed-phrase for alerting viewers.” A time-series analysis of the frequency revealed that the use of such phrases differed immensely depending on the time. These phrases were more frequently used immediately after the Japan Meteorological Agency’s issuance of tsunami warning or at the estimated arrival time of tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture. In contrast, these phrases were less used when the news were reporting a strong tremor in Tokyo or a fire in Odaiba area.