Tag - press-freedom

 
 

PRESS FREEDOM

Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 24, 2016
Government, media equally to blame in debate on free speech, say journalists
Veteran Japanese journalists have stepped up their criticism of communications minister Sanae Takaichi over her comments that the government can suspend broadcasters' operations if they air what it considers politically-biased programs.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 23, 2016
Hiroko Kuniya's ouster deals another blow to quality journalism in Japan
Hiroko Kuniya, the widely respected anchor for NHK's stellar "Close-up Gendai" news analysis program, has been ousted from her position after 23 years with the show. She now joins a growing list of prominent news presenters and commentators who have discovered the apparent perils of not kowtowing to the government. She will remain on air in her 7:30 p.m. slot until April, so enjoy this journalistic giant among pygmies while you can.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2015
Abe 'regrets' LDP members' remarks calling for pressure on news media
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he regrets comments made at a study session last Thursday by LDP members that called for placing financial pressure on news outlets.
JAPAN
Jun 29, 2015
Conservative firebrand Hyakuta sticks to his guns, hardens stance against Okinawa, other newspapers
Naoki Hyakuta, a conservative novelist who is in hot water over his recent remarks calling for "destroying two Okinawan newspapers," has hardened his stance even further, saying he is "seriously wishing" they would disappear.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 28, 2015
LDP media bashers put security bills in doubt
The damage caused by the LDP's media-bashing session has thrown the conservative party into a crisis and thrown its highly unpopular security bills into doubt.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 26, 2015
Media fire back at LDP for targeting revenue of newspapers critical of security bills
Calls from the younger ranks of the LDP to “punish” media organizations critical of the national security bills “by taking their ad revenues” sparks an industry outcry.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 16, 2015
Are forces of darkness gathering in Japan?
Certainly it's worse in China, South Korean security recently beat demonstrators and Spain faces a blanket gag rule, but are concerns about the anti-democratic forces of darkness in Japan unduly alarmist? How bad can it be if protestors in Hibiya Park can carry placards depicting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Adolf Hitler?
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 2, 2015
Foreign media feels the heat from prickly government minders
Last month, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung journalist Carsten Germis wrote about the Japanese government harassing him just for doing his job. In his view, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is overly sensitive to criticism, especially reporting about what Germis calls "a move by the right to whitewash history."
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 17, 2015
LDP grills TV executives but denies use of pressure tactics
A Liberal Democratic Party panel conducts a closed-door meeting with NHK and TV Asahi executives to demand “explanations” about their troubles, raising suspicions of state intimidation.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2015
LDP scrutinizes NHK, TV Asahi scandals; press freedom advocates irked
The Liberal Democratic Party is seeking answers regarding two separate scandals involving NHK and TV Asahi, including one that involved a show of protest against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 10, 2015
Popular news program hit by LDP demand for 'neutral' coverage of 'Abenomics'
The LDP pressured major broadcaster TV Asahi to run “fair and neutral” programs about “Abenomics” ahead of the Lower House election in 2014, it is learned.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 4, 2015
Koga's parting shot may not hit its target
In February, Reporters Without Borders published its annual list of countries ranked in terms of press freedom. Japan came in at No. 61, down two places from the previous year and lower than Taiwan (51) and South Korea (60). The reason for the decline was the state secrets act, which came into force last December and criminalizes the disclosure of classified information, whether by parties inside or outside the government.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Feb 28, 2015
The candy, the whip and freedom of press in Japan
We are familiar with the carrot-and-stick approach in the West, but the phrase in Japan is "ame to muchi" — literally, the candy and the whip.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 16, 2015
Press freedoms threatened
A former British ambassador to Japan hopes that Japanese as well as British cartoonists continue to expose the pomposity, hypocrisy and inadequacies of their politicians, warning that press freedom can never be taken for granted.
COMMENTARY / Japan / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 13, 2014
Abe's secrets law undermines Japan's democracy
On Dec. 10, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new special secrets law took effect despite overwhelming public opposition.
WORLD
Dec 12, 2014
Indonesia English daily's top editor faces blasphemy probe over cartoon
Indonesian police on Thursday declared the editor-in-chief of a prominent English-language daily newspaper a suspect in a blasphemy case over the publication of a caricature purporting to criticize violence inflicted in Iraq by a jihadist group known as the Islamic State.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2014
LDP letter to broadcasters urges neutral poll campaign reporting, draws criticism
Toeing the line between threat and request, the Liberal Democratic Party sends letters to the major TV networks requesting “neutral” coverage of the Dec. 14 election.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 2, 2014
Hundreds in Hong Kong protest meat cleaver attack on journalist
Hundreds of people took to Hong Kong's streets to show support for press freedom and to demand police step up efforts to catch the assailants who critically injured the former chief editor of a newspaper in the city.
Japan Times
JAPAN / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Nov 30, 2013
Japan: The new Uzbekistan of press freedom in Asia
If you're living in Japan, you may be surprised to know that your right to know has been replaced by the right to remain silent. Shhh ... don't protest. It's practically a done deal.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2013
Ruling bloc may yield on state secrets bill
Eager to see its state secrecy bill passed by the Lower House next week, the ruling coalition is showing signs of giving ground on the controversial legislation.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces