Warning on Intervention in Broadcasting

One TV program is focused on as an example of governmental intervention in freedom of expression. Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO), an independent panel for examining TV programs and reflecting opinions of the viewers, criticized Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Sanae Takaichi, and Liberal Democratic Party of their excessive pressure on Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). This is an effusion of public concern on current oppressive administration.

BPO examined an NHK program called Close Up Gendai, which has been a thirty-minute reporting program with journalistic viewpoints. In May last year, the program reported fraud cases by a monk who escaped individual financial debt by changing official name into religious name. Criticisms rose up on some scenes of the documentary that might be fabrication of the story and one man stepped forward, revealing that he was asked to play a role as a conspirator.

BPO embarked on the investigation this May. It concluded that there was a crucial violation against broadcasting ethics in the program in terms of appearance of the man without sufficient research on his identity. But, BPO denied fabrication by the reporter to the extent of ordering the man to pretend to be a conspirator. BPO fundamentally dismissed the criticisms on fabrication.

The focusing point was another facts related to the case. Takaichi rebuked NHK of its attitude for reporting this April. In June, lawmakers of LDP denounced NHK in a meeting, in which one man proposed reducing income of advertising to punish mass communication. BPO recognized those facts as pressure on broadcasting and criticized Takaichi and LDP of its intervention in TV programs based on Broadcasting Act that required neutrality. Realizing the provisions as ethical standards for broadcasters, BPO urged NHK to preserve fortitude against pressures.

Oppressive tendency has been seen in Shinzo Abe administration. Last November, LDP summoned private broadcasters to maintain “neutrality” in the programs. For Abe administration, neutrality is not criticizing the administration. In this April, one lawmaker of LDP referred to a possibility of exercising political decision to stop broadcasting. Conclusion of BPO was apparent opposition to those oppressive activities.

Close Up Gendai is supposed to replace its main caster in next spring. It has been ordinary action for the government to expect changing personality of a program. NHK also changed the main caster of night news program this spring. To show resilience against political pressure, not only the broadcasters but viewers need to be acknowledged to the interventions in the programs they watch.