Masayuki Takayama explains that “media literacy” means the ability to discern whether news reports from newspapers and television are trustworthy. Drawing on his Voice series “Media Yama-no-Cho” and additional essays on the inherent flaws of Japanese journalism, this chapter exposes unverified reporting, structural pitfalls, and the intentional insertion of deceptive narratives. A guide to understanding the motives behind fake news.

2016-01-06

The following continues from the previous chapter.

There is a term in the academic world where I spent some time: “media literacy.”
Literacy means the ability to read.
News reported through newspapers and television—
Whether it is worthy of belief or not, media literacy is the ability to discern that.

This book is based on my series “Media Enma-cho,” published in Voice, which explores where the pitfalls lie in daily news reports from newspapers and television, and what parts remain unexamined.
I have also added several essays on the congenital defects of Japanese journalism.

If this book can help readers become aware that fake reports are mixed into the news, and understand the intentions behind them, nothing would make me happier.

Masayuki Takayama