February 21, 2013
TEPCO is intending to exclude Akahata reporters from the press corps representatives allowed to enter the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
TEPCO on February 20 held a press conference to announce that the company will give a tour of the inside of its crippled plant to the press on March 1, but only to reporters of major national papers, key TV stations, industry journals, and selected freelance journalists along with some Internet media.
Present at the conference room, Akahata reporters immediately protested, “Akahata has many times requested permission to enter the premises to cover stories. It is ridiculous to not give us even the opportunity to apply for participation in the press corps this time.”
A TEPCO spokesperson showed no intention to clearly respond to the Akahata request, only saying, “It would be difficult to charter more buses for the press.”
Witnessing the exchange, reporters of other news media also stated, “It is unfair to not let them even apply for the on-site news tour,” and “It seems strange TEPCO can select who will cover the story.”
Related past articles:
> Akahata protests NRA regarding coverage limitation [September 27, 2012]
> NRA retracts policy of barring Akahata from briefing room [October 3, 2012]
TEPCO on February 20 held a press conference to announce that the company will give a tour of the inside of its crippled plant to the press on March 1, but only to reporters of major national papers, key TV stations, industry journals, and selected freelance journalists along with some Internet media.
Present at the conference room, Akahata reporters immediately protested, “Akahata has many times requested permission to enter the premises to cover stories. It is ridiculous to not give us even the opportunity to apply for participation in the press corps this time.”
A TEPCO spokesperson showed no intention to clearly respond to the Akahata request, only saying, “It would be difficult to charter more buses for the press.”
Witnessing the exchange, reporters of other news media also stated, “It is unfair to not let them even apply for the on-site news tour,” and “It seems strange TEPCO can select who will cover the story.”
Related past articles:
> Akahata protests NRA regarding coverage limitation [September 27, 2012]
> NRA retracts policy of barring Akahata from briefing room [October 3, 2012]
