Broadcasters express concern about possible government intervention

Following passage in the Lower House of the controversial war contingency-related bills, Japanese broadcasters expressed fear that the government may intervene in radio and television programming.

In a published statement on May 15, the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan said: "The bill on responses to perceived or predicted armed attacks was amended before passing through the Lower House, but this does not mean that there will be no government intervention in the content of broadcasts."

"Unless our fear of such intervention is removed, it will be difficult to accept the bill's provision including commercial broadcasting stations in the list of designated public entities that will come under government control in the event of so-called national emergencies," the statement said.

The statement emphasized that the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press must be respected not just by word but by deed, and that the broadcasters' organization will pay close attention to the coming deliberations in the Upper House. (end)