Abstract
This article, presenting telephone survey data gathered in Japan and the US, presents a cross system examination of the diffusion process. Because Japan and the US have highly developed and readily accessible news media, the authors anticipated that diffusion in both countries would be relatively rapid and extensive, occurring primarily through mediated channels of communication. Since the event also was seen as more salient in Japan, the authors expected diffusion to be more rapid and extensive in Japan, with interpersonal channels playing a more active role in the process. These expectations were confirmed by the data. News coverage and accessibility of the media may be as central as salience in dictating how rapidly and extensively events diffuse throughout society, as well as how members of society become aware of events.
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