Editorial
Hatoyama Cabinet members' criticism of media rings of censorship
In the past several days, two members of the Hatoyama Cabinet have criticized media coverage of the scandal over a land purchase involving Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa.
Both Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kazuhiro Haraguchi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano voiced their objections toward articles that referred to sources as "those close (to the case)." Very rarely do Cabinet members opine on the expressions the media uses in its stories. It must be pointed out that such criticism is inappropriate and frivolous.
Haraguchi complained on Tuesday of sources that were not made explicit in news articles and television reports. "It is inappropriate to use public airwaves without making that part of the story clear," he said. On Wednesday, Hirano said, "I'm not saying that this is true of all cases, but some articles are one-sided," regarding stories based on information obtained from "sources." It appears that the Cabinet is now directing its attacks over the scandal not just toward prosecutors but also the media as well.
The Mainichi modified its style in its coverage of incidents and accidents when the lay jury system was started last May. As a general rule, we are more specific about our sources, and avoid the expression "according to sources" as much as possible. Many media outlets have also made similar adjustments.
We obtain our information not only from investigative sources, but from a wide range of sources. We reconfirmed that keeping our sources confidential would take precedence in cases where exposing them would put them at risk. This decision is based on our belief that it best serves the public's right to know.
Unrestricted press coverage -- including our style -- is a part of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Of course, this right presupposes that the information is truthful, and in the case that it is not, the press takes responsibility for it.
The comments from the Cabinet members, however, are not protesting the authenticity of the media's coverage, but can rather be taken as meddling with the expressions we have chosen to use to present our sources.
Particularly in the case of Haraguchi, who retains broadcasting licensing rights as communications minister, his comments on Tuesday sound like a warning to television broadcasters, even though he explained a couple of days later that he had not intended to criticize the media. Let's not forget that during its opposition years, the DPJ continually criticized the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government's political interference with broadcast administration.
Monitoring the government and those who otherwise wield great power in society is the most important task of the media. It is only natural for the government to be subject to harsh criticism. As such, central authority figures that are subject to such oversight and observation should not be making detailed requests or appeals to the media, or the overseer.
The DPJ's response to the scandal surrounding Ozawa is severely lacking in level-headedness. Wouldn't the establishment of a "truth-revealing team" -- and not the "leak-probing team" that the government has proposed -- be a better response to the public's doubts?
(Mainichi Japan) January 22, 2010