Who is leading the bullying problems ?
The development of the internet and the rapid spread of smartphones have increased opportunities to watch the news.
We are also now seeing news from local medias we never see before.
This likely made you realize that many media outlets publish articles biased by their own political ideologies, didn’t it ?
This phenomenon is not limited to only local media outlets but also exists within major medias (newspapers and TV stations).
As news becomes more familiar, one thing has become very clear. It is the manipulation of public opinion under the guise of media information distribution.
Many people have likely realized that the notion that “the media should be fair and neutral” was just convenient delusion.
Recently, a Twitter post about the number of days spent sit-in protesting U.S. military bases in Okinawa has become a hot topic.
Some media outlets have published articles expressing both support and criticism regarding this Twitter post.
However, many of you may have noticed that some media outlets are mounting in what feels like a campaign of bullying.
It seems these media outlets feel their own assertions have been refuted, and they continue to publish articles declaring that opinion to be wrong or denying the person’s very existence.
These media outlets seem to use their power to control speech and deny diversity against those individuals or groups whose way of thinking or ideology differs from their own. In fact, this can be understood from one media outlet reporting that this Twitter post was “ridiculed.”
However, we do not intend to say that the current stance of the media is problematic.
Japan has freedom of speech as a “public stance”. In addition, as a democratic nation, it recognizes freedoms such as political, religious, and ideological expression.
What would happen if all media outlets reported fairly and neutrally from the same standpoint ?
Audiences have diverse “information needs” and “political ideologies,” and media outlets would become unable to respond to that diversity.
In addition, it would become difficult for media outlets to survive as going concerns.
However, we feel that even if mass media outlets need to have a diversity of viewpoints, there are certain things that absolutely must be considered.
We won’t discuss freedom of speech or diversity here, but bullying is a major social issue.
Has the mass media ever considered what would happen if children imitated the behavior of multiple media outlets continuously criticizing one individual in a one-sided way (some of which could easily be called libel) ?
What happens when one child’s words or behavior triggers a mob of other children to continue criticizing that child in person or on social media ?
Can the media advocate that it’s unavoidable because it’s an attack on a child with different way of thinking ?
Or do the media think they are special beings who should be allowed to do anything ?
As a democratic nation, we believe the mass media should embrace diversity and then they publish articles about what they feel from their company’s way of thinking and ideologies.
We would like the mass media to understand the current environment where children can easily watch the news.
Thanks.
2022/11/03 – 2025/11/29
Reference: OKINAWA TIMES (2022/11/01)
https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1036442
Reference: Sponichi Annex (2022/11/01)
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2022/10/11/articles/20221011s00041000385000c.html