 National network formed to discuss how public media should be Media researchers, independent journalists, and lawyers from 10 organizations and groups associated with broadcast media issues have established the "National Liaison Council on the Public Responsibility of Broadcasting." The founding assembly was held on April 19, attended by those people who are concerned with ruling party politicians' interference in NHK programs. The aim of the liaison council is to strengthen solidarity and make their investigation into the cases of political interference in broadcasting media more effective. The launching statement said that political interference in the programming of public broadcaster NHK shows how deep the crisis of Japan's media and the freedom of speech is. Broadcasters' public responsibility is at a crossroads, the appeal stated. On behalf of the founding members of the liaison council, Yoshimi Shun'ya, a professor at Tokyo University, said, "By sharing information, we will be able to determine what to do next." Nonaka Akihiro of Asia Press International said, "We will continue to ask the question: for whom and for what reason the broadcast medium exists?" They plan to hold a symposium. The liaison council includes the Association for Rejection of NHK Subscription Fees Payment, the Japan Congress of Journalists, the Asia Press Network, and Media-Soken, a think tank on media. (Akahata April 20, 2005) |