Heroes and villains: a discourse analysis of Australian and Japanese whaling reports in newspapers

Abstract

Japan’s whaling in the Southern Ocean has been a contentious issue in Australia, typified by a systematic and widely supported anti-whaling campaign. This resistance came to a head on 15 January 2008 with the advent of two events; the boarding of a whaling ship by protestors, and the ruling of the Australian Federal Court that Japan’s whaling breached Australian Law. Our comparative discourse analysis of Australian and Japanese media reportage of these events illustrates how each country has constructed alternative realities reflective of their respective pro or anti-whaling agendas. The constructs in each discourse are distinct; the former full of heroes and villains, the latter filled with scientific researchers. Not only does this underscore the depth of the ideological divide, but it raises the issue of journalistic objectivity and the role that journalism plays in influencing public affairs. We suggest that journalists need to think carefully about the consequences of their (mis)-representations and either acknowledge their partisanship and be held to account, or strive for more balance in reporting events.

Notes

1. This research is part of a larger study on whaling and newspaper analyses in Australia and Japan. The previous study ‘Newspaper Reporting of Whaling in Australia and Japan: A Comparative Content Analysis’ was published by Kimura (2014), the primary author of this article.

2. Italicised by the authors of this article.

3. It needs to be acknowledged that the process of translation is always slightly contentious, given cultural variations in how and what concepts are expressed. However, newspaper articles are written in accessible language for a broad readership. We feel confident that the descriptions below are as accurate a representation of the texts as possible.

4. In Asahi, the title was hogeisen sogyo teishi no meirei, gorenposai, translated as ‘order to stop operation on whaling ships, Australia’s Federal court,’ and in Yomiuri the title was nihon no chosa hogeisen ni sogyo teishi meirei, gorenposai, translated as ‘Japan’s research whaling ships (received) order to stop operation, Australia’s Federal Court.’

5. As of 2017, this correspondent situation has changed; Asahi now has a Sydney correspondent, whereas Yomiuri’s Sydney office has closed thus it has appointed its Jakarta correspondent to cover Australia.