Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2020 October 14 - 20 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

News media sending staff to PM Suga’s off-the-record breakfast meeting face fierce public criticism

Sixteen civil groups working on media issues on October 11 sent a protest letter to newspaper companies and broadcasters that sent staff to an off-the-record breakfast meeting which Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide hosted last week. The written protest has been endorsed by 118 individuals.

Criticizing the breakfast meeting held on October 3, the protest statement points out, “It was not set as a formal occasion to provide information, but was obviously aimed to cosy up to reporters.” It stressed that reporters participating in such a meeting may develop a cozy relationship with the government and become unable to keep a watchful eye on power and keep the public informed. The statement criticized news outlets that sent staff to the controversial meeting and demanded that they request the prime minister hold formal press conferences and meetings.

On the same day, the 16 groups sent another letter to newspaper companies that refused to send staff to the PM Suga-hosted breakfast meeting to encourage them to keep their distance from the government and continue to serve as impartial watchdogs of those in positions of power.

Past related articles:
> PM Suga’s media control infringes on people’s right to know [October 5, 2020]
> PM Suga pressed by RSF to turn into champion of press freedom [September 24, 2020]