Top Story: 12. May 2009
Mass Communication
By Editor in Chief, Jaakko Saari
Two years ago that television broadcaster in Osaka claimed that eating natto on daily basis for two weeks causes people to lose weight. Shortly after the show, thousands of Japanese rushed to stores and bought all the natto there was to buy. However, later, it was found to be a lie, and the TV executives were to apologize the scandal.
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It is hard to underestimate the power of mass media's influence in Japan. In Japan, there is even a word for it, "masskomi", written in katakana. Sensational news, with a very little or no objective truth.
There are some TV stars that appear in television screen every day. Few examples, a teenager golf star Ryo Ishikawa, or baseball coach Nomura. After Olympics, the swimmer Kosuke Kitajima was on television everyday. In fact he was in television so much that one had to wonder if he could have any time to swim.
And then, on almost scheduled time periods few people are made victims. For example, SMAP pop star Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, who appeared naked on public after having too much drink. Because of this mistake, he became instantly labeled as "strange person", and it seemed deep bow and apology in TV wasn't enough. And then, few years back, the mass communication blamed a rape victim publicly, saying that it's her fault.
When I watch TV news in the morning, I feel I'm being politically maneuvered. I feel my chest hurts, and I don't have power to think about the truth. Another family was murdered in Tokyo. Reasons are mostly unknown. A man is accused of touching a young girl on train. Facts are mostly unknown. And then the morning TV shops and mayonnaise advertisements begin. It's almost time for lunch.
I think the word "mass communication" is a bad way to call this phenomena, because communication refers to two-way interactive activity. But television, for example is clearly one way communication. It is clearly, a form of control. The question is that who is in charge of what's being told in mass media. And that should also be the biggest problem.
Gladly, Mass communication is being actively researched in Japan. The scientific research began in early 1940's. I call Japanese television companies to learn samurai ethic. Sources: http://www.javnost-thepublic.org/media/datoteke/1998-1-ishikawa.pdf
Now, it's your turn. Hanami Web is a two way communication. What do you think?
I think that in every country,mass media program reflects their nations' interesting,desire,consciousness.Even if you feel Japanese media always broadcast trivial things,it is just reflection of Japanese mass's interesting and so on.
Swine flu comes our living Tokyo.A stock of mask company will be sure to uprise.Let's buy!