Y2K and the construction of risk perception in newspapers in Japan and the United States

"This study explored cultural construction of risk perception of the Year 2000 problem using content analysis of Japanese and U.S. American newspapers. This study examines national cultural influences on Y2K risk perception, as well as the applicability of risk perception literature to the Y2K problem. Using four risk perception dimensions, responsibility, blame, control, and anticipated impact, 50 articles from a Japanese newspaper and 52 articles from a U.S. American newspaper were coded. Significant differences were found in coverage between the two newspapers. The Japanese newspaper attributed more responsibility for dealing with Y2K problems to its own government than the American newspaper. The Japanese had a greater proportion of coverage portraying Y2K problems as under control or controllable than the U.S. American newspaper, whereas the American newspaper had more background material not specifying control, impact or responsibility." [Information des Anbieters]