The media's portrayal of nuclear safety issues is compared with the views of leading energy experts, who were surveyed in 1980 and 1985. Most energy experts are confident about nuclear safety. Three out of four are willing to live near a nuclear reactor themselves. Five out of six rate the present safety risks of reactors as acceptable.
Media coverage emphasizes the dangers of nuclear energy.
Sixty percent of all judgements about specific safety issues are negative. The most balanced coverage comes from the New York Times and U.S. News. The most anti-nuclear coverage is at NBC and Newsweek , each with three to one negative margins. This study uncovers a gap between the way the experts conceive of nuclear energy and the way the media cover it. Most energy experts support nuclear development and regard current reactors as safe.