Abstract
The tsunami disaster on 26 December 2004 was the biggest peacetime accident to affect the Scandinavian countries. The region hit by the tsunami is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Scandinavians. One hundred-and-seventy-nine Finnish lives were lost, and several hundreds injured. The immediate media coverage and reception were as expected. The volume of the coverage was huge, audiences rose by one-third, as did the use of web material. However, the main type of media used immediately after the catastrophe were the mobile phone and amateur-run discussion groups on the web, allowing for individual expression. But on closer examination, the overall picture is quite a traditional one. The media and public institutions were also providing top-down information via the web, both the media and the receivers focused on Finns alone, and the welfare state was seen as the culprit for not ensuring the security of its citizens.
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