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Nuclear Debate at the Daily Show

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Yesterday, Bloomberg News wrote a story on NEI’s ad campaign and highlighted one TV spot that will air on, among other programs, Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.’ The Daily Show draws a younger, more liberal crowd, some of whom are skeptical of nuclear energy. Since the Bloomberg article appeared, there’s been a surge in commentary from all sides of the nuclear debate at the Daily Show’s Facebook page. If you haven’t been over to the page yet, stop by and add your two cents. The readers over there could use a different perspective on nuclear than from the usual crowd.

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elfpltfn said…
I'm elated NEI is taking a more proactive role in nuclear public relations!
I'm a bit underwhelmed at the message though- saying "nuclear is safe, clean, and reliable" won't convince anyone who doesn't already agree with us. Rather than farming this out to an advertising agency- let the plants' outreach centers develop short ads showing real people. (At a spent fuel pool showing the EAD.. for example).

Right or wrong- nuclear critics have specific complaints that make perfect sense to people who have never seen nuclear fuel. (Case in point: Diane Sawyer's lead into the SONGS S/G tube leak...)

I suspect an educational outreach program demonstrating plant operations/facilities would go much further to bolster confidence than repeating "clean and safe".

P.S. I'm jealous- this would be an incredibly fun project to work on.
March 21, 2012 at 8:49 PM
Luke_UK said…
For the "younger, more liberal crowd" at the Daily Show, who are likely to be more concerned about climate change as well as more hostile to nuclear, you might have been better with Barry Brook's version. See discussion over at Canadian Energy Issues.
http://canadianenergyissues.com/2012/03/21/battle-of-the-nuclear-ads-brook-vs-nei/
March 22, 2012 at 6:28 AM
gmax137 said…
@elfpltfn "...would go much further to bolster confidence than repeating "clean and safe"."

Well, the natural gas kings seem to be doing quite well with "clean...clean...clean..."
March 22, 2012 at 1:14 PM
elfpltfn said…
@gmax137: Well, the natural gas kings seem to be doing quite well with "clean...clean...clean..."

True, but, they don't have to contend with Fukishima, Helen Caldicott or rampant public ignorance of radiation. People aren't threatened by the gas that heats their home in the same way they fear a nuclear reactor.
March 22, 2012 at 4:43 PM
JD said…
"People aren't threatened by the gas that heats their home in the same way they fear a nuclear reactor."

Indeed. A strange phenomenon considering the actual relative risk.

Consider this story, the month before Fukushima:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41503700/ns/us_news-life/t/dead-after-massive-pa-gas-blast/#.T20mFNVmOk8

"A thunderous gas explosion devastated a rowhouse neighborhood, killing five people.."

Long forgotten now, but more deadly than Fukushima.
March 23, 2012 at 9:44 PM
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