Television broadcasters are permitted to use public airwaves on the premise that they comply with the Broadcasting Act, yet Article 4 is routinely ignored. This chapter highlights the collapse of political fairness and factual integrity in Japanese television news and argues for fundamental reform of the licensing system.

2017-08-02
What follows is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The Broadcasting Act Is Not Being Observed.
Kato.
The media must change its mindset as well.
Television is allowed to use the airwaves on the premise that it complies with the Broadcasting Act.
Yet in reality, it has ignored it.
What is particularly problematic is Article 4.
“Article 4: In editing broadcast programs for domestic broadcasting and international broadcasting, broadcasters shall comply with the following provisions.

1. Not to harm public safety or good morals.
2. To be politically fair.
3. To report without distorting the facts.
4. On issues where opinions are divided, to clarify the points of contention from as many angles as possible.”
   Looking at today’s reporting, none of this is being observed.
   Suenobu.
   The Broadcasting Act should probably be restructured from the ground up.
   When this law was enacted, communist forces were strong, and to prevent the airwaves from being hijacked, the government adopted a licensing system out of fear of communist revolution.
   Today, however, government licensing of broadcasting exists only in Japan, Russia, and, I believe, Zimbabwe.
   As long as this remains the case, left-leaning people will continue to make misguided claims such as “Because the government issues licenses, broadcasters are weak against pressure” or “They must be in bed with those in power.”
   I think we should introduce spectrum auctions and allow free market entry.
   To be continued.