An examination of the Asahi Shimbun’s May 17, 2017 front-page “Prime Minister’s intention” scoop, analyzing how headlines and framing shaped public perception and diverged from the policy context of regulatory reform.

It is difficult to understand why Asahi continues reporting that resembles image manipulation contrary to the facts.
2018-01-23
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
It is difficult to understand why Asahi continues reporting that resembles image manipulation contrary to the facts.
As a concrete example, let us examine the “scoop” that topped the front page of the morning edition on May 17, 2017.
The headline, printed in white letters on a black background, reads in large type: “New Faculty ‘Prime Minister’s Intention.’”
This is followed by the subheadings: “Kakei Gakuen Plan: Recorded Documents at MEXT” and “Cabinet Office Urges Early Response.”
Incidentally, this article has already been reported in detail by several people, and it also became one of the issues in a lawsuit in which the Asahi Shimbun sued literary critic Ogawa Eitaro and Asuka Shinsha, each seeking 50 million yen in damages.
The reason for revisiting an article already known to many is that it is important to understand how far apart the views of those who have criticized Asahi, including myself, and those of Asahi itself are regarding this article.
The lead of the article states that regarding the plan by the educational corporation “Kakei Gakuen” (Okayama City), headed by an acquaintance of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to establish a new veterinary faculty in a National Strategic Special Zone, it was discovered that the Ministry of Education had documented records stating that the Cabinet Office in charge of the special zone had told them such things as “the highest level of the Prime Minister’s Office is saying this” and “we have heard it is the Prime Minister’s intention.”
Anti-Abe malice.
What impression would readers form upon reading this headline and lead?
Would they not form a negative impression that the Prime Minister exercised political power to benefit a “friend” in the establishment of the Kakei Gakuen veterinary faculty?
However, the first point I wish to make is that even if Prime Minister Abe had expressed an “intention,” there would be no problem whatsoever.
As chair of the Council on National Strategic Special Zones, the Prime Minister was attempting to drill holes into the rock-solid mass of vested interests.
Exercising leadership as chair to advance regulatory reform is precisely the role expected of the Prime Minister.
Therefore, even if the Prime Minister expressed an “intention,” there is nothing problematic about it.
Yet Asahi placed this article—which essentially described the Prime Minister fulfilling his rightful role—at the top of the front page, attached headlines incorporating expressions such as “new faculty” and “Kakei Gakuen plan,” and wrote the lead as mentioned above.
Did this not create the impression that the Prime Minister had granted favors to a friend?
Was that in fact Asahi’s aim?
The reason for thinking so is that part of the photograph of the document printed on the front page was obscured in shadow and unreadable.
To be continued.