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Media Monitor
No Foreigners Need Apply
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tokyo -- PanOrient News became aware earlier today that Prime Minister Naoto Kan would be making significant comments about yen appreciation and the Japanese economy at a press gathering in Tokyo. We aimed to be at the site to inform you directly about what the Japanese leader said.
Unfortunately, upon inquiring with the relevant Japanese governmental authorities, we discovered that only Japanese news organizations would be allowed to film the event and all foreign media organizations were automatically excluded.
We protested, of course, but to no avail.
We therefore missed the press conference and are forced to rely on our Japanese competitors to have any idea what Prime Minister Kan had to say on this occasion.
Regrettably, this is the state of journalism in Japan even in 2010.
The major Japanese media organizations maintain their stranglehold on political information by simply refusing to let foreigners and smaller news outlets be present at some major news events.
Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama had pledged to open up the Japanese media system shortly before he took office, but this is one of many pledges upon which the DPJ has yet to deliver.
It is also, we dare say, reflective of one major reason why Japan is slowly sinking into international insignificance.
PanOrient News
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