Japanese page : Lecture Symposium Report
Lecture Symposium Report
Rikkyo University Graduate School held a seminar of Journalism- War and Propaganda, with an Analysis of Media Coverage of the Iraq War, at Ikebukuro Campus on 10th July 2004. On the panel were, Mr. Kuniomi Asai, former special correspondent in battlefield journalism, Mr. Maki Sato, Palestine NGO Office Representative, and Professor Kenji Isezaki, who has experience in Peace Construction in Afghanistan and other disputed grounds. There were 130 visitors in attendance from students, staff, educationalists, press and public. Panellists related their experiences, from fresh coverage of battlefield and disputed ground reporting, and went on to cover the system of mass media, and the point of their own position over this coverage. During Question and Answers there were active exchanges covering such topics as “Where can we get an impartial report,” and, “ Do we have media literacy over war reports”. An active T.V commentator sitting amongst the visitors criticised weak Japanese Media.
Symposium Questionnaire by Media Institute 21
“ We should not take the whole story on Faith.” This is the key-phrase that the audience or reader themselves perceived, in order to believe the essence of the information given on war coverage. This key-phrase rose from a survey, by Media Institute 21, of respondents from the 130 people who attended the forum. There were 34 questionnaires completed after hearing the panellists comments, and can be analysed thus,
35% say “They changed their view of the media after participating in the symposium.”
As to the information reported by the mass media.
30% say “It is important to understand that what we must be aware of is, the progress which results not only in the portion which has been distorted, and appears supported by photographs and image, but also in the background facts to recognise the truth”.
75% of visitors raised the importance of literacy. On the other hand there were some opinions, “in spite of the subtitle”, the present condition of the media is subjective, because there were only freelance journalists on the panel, and not mass media representatives, these should have been included.
In addition, panellists opinions which remained in the impression were, “We must not lose the viewpoint of the attacked peoples.” It should also be realised the risks taken whilst working as a journalist, and also being conscious of death, is difficult for the audience to understand.