How do you feel about the nonstop television coverage of the earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis? What effect do you think it has on the public?

@globalwatcher

Did it not cross your mind that the reason why people are giving their opinions re TV coverage may be because they are merely answering the questions in the title of this thread?

To those who complain about media overcoverage of disaster, be thankful you are not in NE of Japan and not suffering like they do.

its good. reminding us the greatness of act of god. and how lucky we are who is still living in this world and share the sorrow and grievance of the unfortunates. ppl also need to update with the nuclear reactor status and radiation. so its not a bad thing

I wish they had a AC commerical about hording milk,eggs, bread and other products in the tokyo area. I`m not going to rant about the television coverage. It is needed because this is the largest earthquake ever recorded and wiped out over 22, 000 people.

I do not want to see on the television stupid variety shows about nothing.

Sorry, I would rather watch news coverage than boring variety shows.

And I want the coverage to continue. "Out of sight, out of mind." "Yes, it's been already what, 7 days, 10 days or two weeks? Yeah, they should be doing fine by now right?" Wrong! They are not doing fine. The total recovery is going to take several years, and even for in the first few months the government has simply too many problems to be able to solve all of them. There are things individual people can do, and reminding them of the need is very important. You say, "We know the past." Do you? You saw everything there was to people suffer? Congratulations.

The media is trying to help people help others. It's not spread even, it's not objective, it's not even sometimes accurate, because there is still so much confusion. But it gives people a chance to think about others. You are fed up with it? Welcome to Japan, everybody is fed up with the earthquake and the tsunami and the power plant. But this is the reality here. And the needs of people suffering in Tohoku are bigger than the boredom of foreigners complaining that their favorite program was canceled.

It is troublesome. There is such a thing as overdose in medicine and information. Everyone knows the story, the impact and the possible results. It is so sad. A return to normal television programming, especially for children, with 10 minute/hour updates is enough unless something major happens. Also, why isn't coverage of attempts to improve the situation such as road openings, mail and package delivery, and all the positive activities that people have devised being covered? Now is the time to look to the future. We know the past. Thank you.

i don't know about your people, but the some of the American channels are just a bench of crap. they all show repeats of imagines, interviews, and video. you have to actually watch either youtube videos, the Japanese Channels, or Asian channels to know what is actually going on during the Japanese crisis.

i especially hate how FOX News(American) reports report the news. ever since the reactor crisis, they spend almost their entire hours reporting on the reactor crisis and not on the suffering that is going on with the tsunami victims. ....

with CNN, it just a repeat from the previous hour.

the japanese new and asian news is far better.

It a shame each channel couldnt co-operate by showing different aspects of the crisis, rather than all showing the same thing at the same time. 7 channels all with the Fukushima nuclear mess, the Tsunami disaster was completely overlooked. The complete lack of ads for the first three days was the only silver lining (if you could call it that) in all the coverage.

Makes the Japanese more paranoid then ever.

Japan was already paranoid about everything involving China. Now, Japanese are paranoid about everything involving Japan.

What is up with the AC commercials!! Ahhhhhh! (>_<)

i prefer the news coverage to the usual drekk that's broadcasted. i hope that the electorate have been following the responses of their local representatives and will vote accordingly in the upcoming elections. the news broadcasts have been an opportunity to see the ruling parties mettle tested, so they should be of importance to those who live in japan.

I think that along with the news(Latest updates) A Telethon for the victims with All the N.H.K. Stars singing ,dancing,as well as reminiscing on their lives and how this tragedy relates to them as well as the public would keep the needed attention going.U.S. media seems to have "moved on" to other issues-Lets Keep the Spotlight on Japan!!

The effect is not actually a radiation but anxiety,stress & paranoia!I have been reading & watching news from around the globe and they are all exaggerated and not accurate.

as soon as we...

Better than anything that we have to see usually as soon we open the tv...

I figure 10 more hours of technobabble and I'll be qualified to design a fail-safe nuclear reactor.

The coverage of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis is much better than the inane variety programs that are starting to come back on TV.

its really necessary, updated information should be broadcast from time to time, i believe they are reliable and besides that people are concern also on whats going on, so the significant of non-stop coverage should be continue and because of that we are aware of things that are happenings around us.

Loving the AC commercials. Everybody is good with こんにちワン and ありがとウサギ。

popopo po~n! As for the ovarian cancer one, I'd go for the mother.

Not surprising that the networks and the NHK switched to normal programming when the temperature started rising again.

Cos.

They used to do it nonstop on all channels, most channels now resumed their normal programming with a news scroller at the bottom, etc.

But I agree it was too long nonstop on all channels, one or two would have been better.

I don't have a telly. Do they do it on all channels ? If so, it's useless. 2 or 3 channels with non-stop. They can keep the others with usual light entertainment if people bedridden in hospitals, children or whoever needs that to destress.

I think the non-stop coverage is a necessary evil. Most people can't watch the news non-stop so its easy for them to get caught up anytime. Also, it was very refreshing yesterday morning when there was an emergency like bulletin that a survivor was found.

But the foreign media needs to tone the panic level down a bit... too much sensationalism for me.

Loving the AC commercials. Everybody is good with こんにちワン and ありがとウサギ。

NHK is incredibly boring and doesn't give true updates on the situations. More information is available on the internet. The world knows more about what is happening at Fukishima, Tokyo than NHK reports. Even the latest earthquakes are not reported promptly on the Japanese government earthquake site. When the quake occurred, the government said "No Tsunami Warning." Check the time date. It is better to go to an American site or other sites. Why are the citizens of Japan left outside the information? It has been explained as "saving face" but "surviving" is more important.

The NHK updates are sometimes helpful, but when, when, when, will they fire that annoyingly incoherent J-woman who mumbles the English speaking news?

People need to be informed. Nobody forces you to watch TV 24/7. The AC commercials, I am even dreaming of them. I think everybody got the message now, even the guy parked next to me at Lawson who started to smile and bow - I got a new friend now. AC works.

it's better than the garbage that's usually on 24/7

Can you imagine not broadcasting nonstop about a disaster of this magnitude? It was necessary.

When we in the Kobe area were hit with a massive earthquake I was grateful for the coverage we got and was sorry when it leveled off. People were still suffering when the Awaji-Hanshin Daishinsai became yesterday's news. I hope that this does not happen this time, though it seems like it is. The daily fare of lowbrow commercial TV is now taking over as if normality has returned when it has not. Not by a long shot.

The quality of the coverage was uneven. NHK was very careful to follow the government line, particularly in regard to the nuclear disaster. But with Internet it was possible to get other perspectives and news that the networks would not cover (like yakuza engaging in humanitarian aid).

The unfortunate irony of all this coverage is that the worst victims of the quake have seen little or none of it, not having the means to do so.

the AC commercials are starting to get on my nerves even after the first day. But im not complaining, the people in the quake hit areas dont even HAVE TV so yeah I shouldn't complain.

I just wish the programmers would be more considerate in what they broadcast.

I find it reassuring. If you don't like the AC Japan commercials, stick with NHK.....

People need to know of the situation in the northeast.

We normally don't watch much telly and were even considering just not bothering with one when it all goes digital in the summer, but now I think we've realised its worth in times of crisis.

I agree with cocolocohbv, the information needs to be broadcasted.

I feel it,s necessary,three catastrophes have hit Japan in a pretty big way, and the Japanese public need to be informed weather it,s through local or international media and or newsagencies,which can differ quite a bit....

It gets to be a bit too much after awhile. Last night, for the time in more than a week, I actually turned off NHK and watched a DVD. I imagine it must be hard for young children, who miss their usual programs.

people need to take a break. over the first few days, it was impossible to turn away from the news, and I noticed a lot of people who were seriously on edge as a result.

take a break, everyone. there's going to be aftershocks for a couple of months, and it won't help if you're on edge. turn off the TV and the computer, and go spend the day with family or friends. have a couple of beers. got to take care of your mental health.

From what people have told me, the single biggest effect it has had is that everyone is absolutely sick of commercials for AC Japan.

I feel it is necessary. People want to be informed and reassured.

Depressing and encourages panicking.

NHK is not being objective, critical or analyitical enough; merely a mouth-piece for the government.