“Of Gods and Men”: Selected Print Media Coverage of Natural Disasters and Industrial Failures in Three Westminster Countries

摘要: This article examines selected print media coverage of a domestic natural disaster and industrial failure in each three Westminster countries: Australia, Canada, the UK. It studies this from several perspectives: volume coverage; rate at which articles were published; tone headlines; content analysis perceived performance key public private institutions during following events. Its initial findings reveal that disasters received more than failures newspapers considered. There was also no significant difference publication across event type or newspaper. In case, government assessed least as frequently negatively non-government actors, particularly failures. The manner actors these events suggests that, contrary to claims owners operators critical infrastructure (CI) are responsible for its successful operation, fact is “in frame” industry are. addition, negative assessments governments particular may prompt over-reaction by policy makers under-reaction disasters. inconsistency indeed ironic because latter occur often cost more, both financially socially. We reviewed 340 newspaper different newspapers: Australian’s Canberra bushfires Waterfall train accident, Globe Mail’s (Canada) Hurricane Juan de la Concorde overpass collapse, Daily Telegraph’s (UK) 2007 floods Potters Bar wreck. Our sample size small; our ability compare countries limited. Further research warranted.