Richard Lemke

Instrumentalizing Fukushima: Comparing Media Coverage of Fukushima in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland

According to the theory of instrumental actualization in mediated conflicts, the mass media tend to exaggerate events consistent with the editorial line. This theory was tested using press coverage in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom on the Japanese seaquake, the tsunami it caused, and the nuclear disaster of Fukushima. Within a period of seven weeks after the seaquake, the coverage in the four countries in 27 national newspapers and magazines on the three events was analyzed. As hypothesized from theory, German and Swiss media concentrated on Fukushima and stressed its relevance to domestic nuclear plants, whereas French and British media placed a greater emphasis on the tsunami and rarely related the nuclear catastrophe in Japan to domestic nuclear programs. In addition, there were remarkable correlations between the views of journalists and the bias of statements on nuclear energy presented in their news sections. Findings are discussed and related to the theory of public opinion and political decisions in liberal democracies.

That Man Behind the Curtain: Investigating the Sexual Online Dating Behavior of Men Who Have Sex With Men but Hide Their Same-Sex Sexual Attraction in Offline Surroundings

ABSTRACT This study investigates how men who have sex with men (MSM) use chat and dating sites based on theories of stigma-related offline behavior and online self-disclosure. We hypothesize that hidden MSM (those who self-label as heterosexual or who hide their same-sex sexual attraction from family, friends, acquaintances, or a female romantic partner) differ from open MSM in how they behave on gay chat and dating sites and in offline gay venues. Drawing on a survey of 12,002 MSM, we show that hidden MSM tend to mask their identity on gay chat and dating sites while avoiding offline gay venues. They also focus more strongly on online sexual activities (e.g., masturbating during online chats) when using gay chat and dating sites. However, they spend the same amount of time on these sites, and they use them to initiate offline sexual encounters as often and as fast as open MSM.

Sociopolitical and Cultural Correlates of Internalized Homonegativity in Gay and Bisexual Men: Findings from a Global Study

ABSTRACT Objectives: Based on the premise that internalized homonegativity (IH) is a product of the incorporation of environmental heterosexism, the authors examined the influence of sociopolitical and individual influences on IH. Methods: The cross-sectional study consisted of 109,382 gay and bisexual men across 77 countries. Results: Variables at the (European) country-level that were associated with higher levels of IH included lack of laws recognizing same-sex relationships and perceived and actual negative gay-related public opinion about homosexuals. Individual-level variables significantly associated with IH were public opinion about homosexuals and exposure to gay-related victimization/discrimination. Conclusions: An improved sociopolitical climate for LGB individuals is needed.

Victimisation and life satisfaction of gay and bisexual individuals in 44 European countries: the moderating role of country-level and person-level attitudes towards homosexuality

Abstract We examined the link between victimisation and life satisfaction for 85,301 gay and bisexual individuals across 44 European countries. We expected this negative link to be stronger when the internalised homonegativity of the victim was high (e.g. because the victim is more vulnerable) and weaker when victimisation occurs in countries that express intolerance towards homosexuality (e.g. because in such contexts victims expect victimisation more and they attribute it to their external environment). Additionally, we expected internalised homonegativity to relate negatively to life satisfaction. Multilevel analyses revealed that victimisation (i.e. verbal insults, threats of violence, minor or major physical assaults) and internalised homonegativity were negatively related to life satisfaction. Furthermore, as we expected, the negative link between victimisation and life satisfaction was stronger when high internalised homonegativity was reported (and the interaction effect occurred for verbal insults and major assaults as outcome variables), while it was weaker when there was low national tolerance of homosexuality (and the interaction effect occurred for verbal insults and for minor assaults). Future research and social policy should consider how the consequences of victimisation are dependent on personal as well as national attitudes towards homosexuality.

Testing the Cross-Cultural Robustness of the Minority Stress Model in Gay and Bisexual Men

ABSTRACT The study tests the cross-cultural robustness of the minority stress model using a most different systems approach. Data from Western European, Eastern European (including Russian), Indian, Philippine, and Thai gay and bisexual men was obtained online. The final sample consisted of N = 90,467 participants who reported their level of satisfaction with life, victimization, felt stigma, and internalized homonegativity, as well as their disclosure status and sociodemographic details. Stepwise linear regressions were conducted on reported levels of satisfaction with life. Higher levels of victimization, felt stigma, and internalized homonegativity predicted lower satisfaction with life in all groups. Disclosure was associated with higher satisfaction with life in Western Europe as well as the Philippines and Thailand. Minority stressors explained far more variance in participants’ satisfaction with life (13% to 24%) than sociodemographics alone (1% to 3%). The findings suggest that the minority stress theory is a useful cross-cultural explanatory model for satisfaction with life.

»Weil man dann eher angeklickt und angeschrieben wird.« – Sexualisierung durch Nacktbilder beim Online-Dating

Der Beitrag untersucht die Rolle von Nacktbildern im Rahmen der Selbstdarstellung im Internet am Beispiel der Online-Aktivitaten auf Chat- und Datingportalen fur homo- und bisexuelle Manner. Es werden Daten aus zwei umfangreichen Online-Umfragen prasentiert, die in den Jahren 2011 und 2013 unter den Nutzern des Portals PlanetRomeo.com durchgefuhrt wurden (n=18.632 und n=13.883). Neben der generellen Verbreitung von Nacktbildern auf den Profilseiten der Nutzer stehen die Motive, aus denen heraus die Nacktbilder dort gezeigt werden, im Fokus des Beitrags. Auf Basis der dargestellten empirischen Befunde wird die Relevanz von Nacktbildern im Zuge der Sexualisierungsprozesse auf Chat- und Datingportalen, sowie im Internet allgemein, diskutiert.

Inszenierte Schlüsselereignisse: Die Medienresonanz der Verkehrssicherheitskampagne Runter vom Gas!

Auch wenn gros angelegte Kampagnen wie beispielsweise die Verkehrssicherheitskampagne Runter vom Gas! von einem erheblichen Teil der Bevolkerung direkt wahrgenommen werden (siehe Klimmt und Maurer in diesem Band), ist das Ausmas der medialen Berichterstattung uber eine Kampagne aus mehreren Grunden eine wichtige Erfolgsgrose fur deren Wirkung. Zum einen steigt mit der Menge und Frequenz medialer Berichterstattung die Gesamtsumme der Kontakte der Bevolkerung mit der Botschaft der Kampagne (Multiplikatorenrolle der Massenmedien). Zum anderen gewinnt die Kampagne durch journalistische Berichterstattung fur die Bevolkerung an Konkretheit und Seriositat: Die Medien konstruieren die an sich wenig manifeste Kampagne als Teil der Realitat fur das Publikum. Daruber hinaus wird ihnen in der Regel eine grosere Glaubwurdigkeit zugeschrieben als den Urhebern der Kampagnenbotschaften. Man kann folglich annehmen, dass sich die Wirksamkeit einer Kampagne steigern lasst, wenn es gelingt, sie moglichst oft in der journalistischen Berichterstattung der Massenmedien zu platzieren. Dies hat zugleich den positiven Effekt, dass fur diese Form der Multiplikatorenleistung keine Kosten anfallen. Ob uber eine Kampagne berichtet wird, liegt dann zwar in den Handen der Journalisten. Allerdings lasst sich deren Bereitschaft, uber eine Kampagne zu berichten, mit einigen Mitteln mehr oder weniger subtil erhohen. Neben informellen Gesprachen mit einzelnen Journalisten sind dies vor allem Pressekonferenzen und Pressemitteilungen. Umgekehrt kann eine kritische Berichterstattung der Wirkung einer Praventionskampagne abtraglich sein, weil sich das Publikum auch an negativen Urteilen von Journalisten orientieren kann. Auch deshalb ist es von Bedeutung, die mediale Berichterstattung uber Verkehrssicherheitskampagnen zu untersuchen.