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Foreigners in Tokyo urge Western media to calm down

Foreigners in Tokyo started criticizing Western media coverage of the Fukushima nuclear accident, writing to their blogs or publishing videos on Youtube. They are frustrated by too many worries sent by their friends back home, outside of Japan, who are driven by the over-amplified fear over the earthquake and the nuclear accident in Fukushima. The fear is apparently amplified by the sensationalizing tone of Western media, which try to catch the eyes of readers.

Below are some of those voices of criticism to the sensationalizing journalism, with the descriptions of the current state of Tokyo.

A TV personality who spent more than half his life in Japan asks:

STOP THE HYSTERIA. You are causing panic amongst the foreign community in Japan by exaggerating the situation at the Fukushima #1 Nuclear Power Plant. Listen to your own nuclear experts, and get back the job of reporting on the humantarian crisis evolving in North Japan.

— Stop the hysteria (by Daniel Kahl)

A young comedian puts a serious appeal:

Honestly the information being promulgated abroad is HURTING relief efforts in japan. Supporting these “news” broadcasters is not helping aid that needs to flow to the areas that really need help.

— Earthquake in Japan; Update: 3/17 (by Kevin Cooney)

Another guy from Croatia tries to remove misunderstandings:

Are we worried? Of course we are. Are some people scared? Naturally there are. But “panic” sounds so much better than “anxiety” for a headline. I was asked to explain myself when I said that there was no panic in Tokyo. “But we can see all those people in the airport fleeing the country!” Indeed, there are such people. However, if you went to a hospital, would you conclude that the city is filled with the hurt, the sick and the dying? I hope I need not further expound on why this is sloppy journalism.

— Panic in Tokyo? NO! (by Goran Topić)

A blogger compares Western media to Japanese media:

In Japan, calm reporters in front of simple backgrounds and even a hand-crafted diorama are the face of the network during a crisis. It is a calming contrast to torrential news tickers, whooshing noises, flags and industrial music of American media, constantly reminding you that news is urgent.

Here’s my proposal: Western media addresses risks, because it comes from a tradition of informing critical thinking. Japanese media addresses concerns, because it comes from a tradition of maintaining public order.

— On Watching the News in Japan (by owls_mcgee)