Zaporizhzhia is not Chernobyl

A study released recently by Stanford and University of British Columbia, published in the Proceedings of the Media loves a story, and nothing gets clicks faster than a disaster. Unfortunately, when it comes to nuclear, that often means reporters choose sensationalism over fact.

Recent news stories that have compared the situation at Zaporizhzhia to the disaster at Chernobyl over 35 years ago have included “Russian shelling at Ukrainian nuclear plant risks ‘another Chernobyl’” by New Scientist, “For Chernobyl Survivors, New Ukraine Nuclear Risk Stirs Dread” by the New York Times, and “Fearing ‘Another Chernobyl,’ Turkey Throws Support Behind Ukraine” by Newsweek.

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