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Special problems of getting good news published in the news media

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)
OSTI ID:5879335
 [1]
  1. Wolf Creek Nuclear Station, Burlington, KS (United States)

Those of us who work in the nuclear industry face a special set of problems in getting our good news out to the public. Our biggest problem is the general public has a negative emotional reaction to the term [open quotes]nuclear.[close quotes] I conduct tours at Wolf Creek generating station near Burlington, Kansas, in America's heartland. When visitors come to our plant, many of them are concerned with their own personal safety. They want to know how much radiation exposure they are receiving and tell me about friends who were supposed to accompany them on their tour but who were so concerned about their safety that they opted to stay at home. Once these people have completed their tour, their minds are eased. It is at that point that I ask them to do a simple word association test on themselves. I have them think of the word nuclear, then tell me the next word that comes to their minds. Generally, they will say words such as [open quotes]bomb,[close quotes] [open quotes]explosion,[close quotes] [open quotes]radiation,[close quotes] and so forth. What is the best way to speak to people's fears about nuclear issues One of the most effective, efficient ways is by asking the media to help spread the good word.

OSTI ID:
5879335
Report Number(s):
CONF-930601--
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States), Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Vol. 68; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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