Reporters and journalists who say that their job is to monitor the government's power should be considered engaged in self-absorbed journalism.
April 22, 2018
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Pursuing the facts is the media's job.
Ogawa
The media needs to report facts based on facts.
As citizens, we should naturally monitor whether the government representing our sovereign power is conducting proper politics.
Still, it is up to the people to judge the outcome, not the media.
The role of the media is to convey the facts to the people; that's the only point.
It is natural to separate straight news from commentary, report facts as facts, and then say, "But this is what we think."
However, the Asahi Shimbun distorted the facts and reported straight news, and led the reporting by going so far as almost to fabricate the story.
That's why I wrote "A thorough investigation of the Moritomo and Kake scandals - the biggest reporting crime in the postwar period by the Asahi Shimbun" with anger.
In reality, there is a mountain of issues at home and abroad that we need to consider, and frankly, we don't have time to play house with the Asahi Shimbun.
Suda:
They say the Asahi Shimbun is a media outlet that promotes "anti-authority" and "monitoring authority," but what do you think about it as Abiru of the Sankei Shimbun, which is likely to be said to be "all about authority"?
Abiru:
Are people saying that (laughs)?
Many people say the media's job is to monitor authority, but the media's job is to pursue the facts.
In pursuing the facts, they may end up monitoring authority or pointing out problems, but "monitoring" or "criticism" is not the purpose.
Kadota:
I despise people who say the role of journalism is to "monitor authority" the most.
Those kinds of people only see things through their principles and beliefs.
For example, I would like to ask, "So, did the Asahi Shimbun monitor the government during the Democratic Party administration?"
Far from monitoring, Asahi Shimbun is so "dependent on power" that it has even been said that its chief editor, who oversees both articles and editorials, may become Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Reporters and journalists who say their job is to monitor power should be thought of as practicing "self-absorbed journalism."
Just by saying that they are "monitoring power and criticizing Abe," they become intoxicated and feel superior.
There are many powers in the world.
Many pressure groups are like power itself, including huge religious organizations.
It would be understandable if they were to monitor and fight all kinds of powers, but only journalists who run away with their tails tucked between their legs are so loudly calling for "monitoring power."
They are simply suffering from "self-absorbed shutter syndrome."
April 22, 2018
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Pursuing the facts is the media's job.
Ogawa
The media needs to report facts based on facts.
As citizens, we should naturally monitor whether the government representing our sovereign power is conducting proper politics.
Still, it is up to the people to judge the outcome, not the media.
The role of the media is to convey the facts to the people; that's the only point.
It is natural to separate straight news from commentary, report facts as facts, and then say, "But this is what we think."
However, the Asahi Shimbun distorted the facts and reported straight news, and led the reporting by going so far as almost to fabricate the story.
That's why I wrote "A thorough investigation of the Moritomo and Kake scandals - the biggest reporting crime in the postwar period by the Asahi Shimbun" with anger.
In reality, there is a mountain of issues at home and abroad that we need to consider, and frankly, we don't have time to play house with the Asahi Shimbun.
Suda:
They say the Asahi Shimbun is a media outlet that promotes "anti-authority" and "monitoring authority," but what do you think about it as Abiru of the Sankei Shimbun, which is likely to be said to be "all about authority"?
Abiru:
Are people saying that (laughs)?
Many people say the media's job is to monitor authority, but the media's job is to pursue the facts.
In pursuing the facts, they may end up monitoring authority or pointing out problems, but "monitoring" or "criticism" is not the purpose.
Kadota:
I despise people who say the role of journalism is to "monitor authority" the most.
Those kinds of people only see things through their principles and beliefs.
For example, I would like to ask, "So, did the Asahi Shimbun monitor the government during the Democratic Party administration?"
Far from monitoring, Asahi Shimbun is so "dependent on power" that it has even been said that its chief editor, who oversees both articles and editorials, may become Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Reporters and journalists who say their job is to monitor power should be thought of as practicing "self-absorbed journalism."
Just by saying that they are "monitoring power and criticizing Abe," they become intoxicated and feel superior.
There are many powers in the world.
Many pressure groups are like power itself, including huge religious organizations.
It would be understandable if they were to monitor and fight all kinds of powers, but only journalists who run away with their tails tucked between their legs are so loudly calling for "monitoring power."
They are simply suffering from "self-absorbed shutter syndrome."
2024/10/1 in Osaka
