Tuumaenergia debatt Eesti ajakirjanduses aastal 2007 ja 2008 alguses
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
Description
The current bachelor’s thesis is about the debate of nuclear energy in the year 2007 and at the
beginning of the year 2008. At the moment in Estonia there are many different scenario, how to
produce energy in the future. The starting point for the new situation was the understanding of
decreasing efficiency and capacity of the oil shale industry in relation to the higher prices of the
pollution quota and the suspension of the Narva oil shale power plant’s old furnaces in the year
2016. The main purpose of the study is to find out, how capable the media is reflecting important,
but complex topics such as the nuclear energy, to the society. Due to high technological level and
long-term economical aspect, the media needs to deepen more on this issue.
The theoretical basis of the paper predicates on the McQuail´s normative media theory. Using the
newspaper Postimees the author has studied media’s capability to comply with the requirement of
balanced and varied discussion. The methodology used to achieve the research purpose is content
analysis and qualitative analysis. In the last part of the content analysis and in the qualitative
analysis the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht is added to the selection. In the third part the spokesmen,
who appeared in the media are interviewed to ask their opinion about the discussion and media’s
capability to reflect it. In addition to their opinion the evaluation of neutrality and balance is
presented. In all methods the selection is divided to proponents and opponents.
The outcome of the quantitative part of the study shows, that the proponents of nuclear energy had
more opportunities to express their opinion in the Postimees. The project of Ignalina nuclear power
station was represented most, especially at the beginning of the year 2007. In the year 2008 the
topic of the possible nuclear power station being built in Estonia was the most popular during first
three months.
In the selection there are two former ministers, three members of the Parliament of Estonia, the
leader of conservation organization, the leader of energetic commission and academician, who
formed diverse selection, being equally divided into proponents and opponents. Mostly they are
critical about the discussion concerning nuclear energy. Although the opponents draw attention to
the subjectivity in media reflection, majority pointed out the problem with general quality of the
discussion. A part of respondents are of the opinion that there is nor discussion neither dialogue, butonly emotional and superficial argument. Proponents as well as opponents offer foreign experts´
opinions as a solution. Diverse usage of spokesmen and thorough discussion is a general preference.
The development of the nuclear power issue is undefined at the moment. The advance of Ignalina
cooperation project is not excluded; simultaneously the possibility of taking part in 6th Finnish
reactor project is not certain yet. At present there is a realistic possibility to build a nuclear power
plant in Estonia. The object of further research could be the political communication of the
determination process. This should be considered in case of Estonian Government being for nuclear
power station to be built in Estonia and Estonian Parliament would vote the decision. Researches
about the discussion of building Finnish 5th reactor have shown that the decision-making process in
the Parliament is complicated, long and diverse. The reflection and revelation of these political
processes is a big challenge for the media.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General), bakalaureusetööd, ajakirjandus, trükiajakirjandus, energia, tuumaenergia, diskussioonid