Archive for February, 2015

Is Japanese cinema sinking into a self-censorship swamp?

One great thing about living in Japan is the consideration, or omoiyari, people here commonly show for others. My newspaper delivery guy climbs the 25 steps to my front door and deposits a copy of The Japan Times in my mailbox every morning, rain or shine. His colleagues in the U.S. my home country might toss the paper from a moving vehicle in the general direction of a customers front yard. Both are just doing their jobs, but my guy considerately spares me effort (and exercise), at no profit to himself.

Jishuku, often translated as self-restraint, can also be framed as an expression of consideration. When Emperor Hirohito was dying of terminal cancer in 1988, many journalists knew the truth, but the story did not run on the front pages of Japans major newspapers. It could be argued that the purpose of this media jishuku was to spare not only the Emperor himself, but the Imperial Family and the Japanese people in general from shock and distress.

But jishuku has come to have another, more troubling meaning: self-censorship. Following the Emperor Hirohitos death on Jan. 7, 1989, normal TV programming was suspended for days in favor of eulogistic documentaries and reverential news shows, while businesses closed and events were canceled by the thousands. I thought at the time it was uncanny as though the postwar period, with its Occupation-supported freedom of expression, never happened.

Jishuku is not limited to Japans Imperial system, however. Instead, the media, including the supposedly free-spirited talents it hosts, has long practiced a type of self-censorship that is less an expression of consideration than a knuckling under to corporate and governmental power and, now, the angry voices on the Internet.

After iconic actor Ken Takakura died on Nov. 10, 2014, the Tokyo Shimbun noted that the theme song of Abashiri Bangaichi (Abashiri Prison), the 1965 movie that became his breakout hit, had been subject to media jishuku since the 1970s. Recorded by Takakura himself and based on a folk song, the tune became a hit, but radio stations and TV broadcasters kept it off the air for decades because its lyrics were deemed to be supportive of criminal acts. This was done under the cover of a voluntary ban by the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (Minporen) on songs with problematic lyrics. Minporen has long since dropped the lyrics-restricting rule, but as film director Tatsuya Mori told the Tokyo Shimbun, The tendency of the media to self-regulate (free expression) hasnt changed at all.

Examples of similar jishuku have multiplied since the end of 2014, beginning with popular comedy duo Bakusho Mondai and veteran lead singer for the Southern All Stars, Keisuke Kuwata, making abject public apologies after venturing some mild criticisms of authority.

Bakusho Mondais Yuji Tanaka had complained to a TBS radio audience on Jan. 7 that public broadcaster NHK had nixed the duos proposed political gags for a New Years show. Earlier, at a Dec. 28 concert with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance, Kuwata had mocked Abes decision to call a snap election last fall. Also, in a performance on NHKs New Years Eve show Kohaku Utagassen (Red and White Song Contest), Kuwata sung other lyrics some interpreted as critical of Abes conservative-leaning administration.

Amid the ensuing controversy, both Kuwata and Tanaka apologized and recanted.

These are mainstream talents working in a media environment that is hypersensitive to anything resembling controversy. Its hardly surprising that, following their slip-ups, they would quickly toe the agency or broadcaster line. Nonetheless, given the political nature of their mini-scandals, with much of the online outrage coming from the far-right side of the political spectrum, it was hard not to hear free-speech alarm bells ringing.

Those bells have gotten louder with the local media reaction to the capture of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group, climaxing with the death of freelance video journalist Kenji Goto on Feb. 1. In response, The Fuji TV network pushed back the broadcast of an episode of the anime Ansatsu Kyoshitsu (Assassination Classroom) that featured a knife. A Jan. 31 broadcast of the Tantei Kageki Milky Holmes TD (Detective Opera Milky Holmes TD) animation series about the adventures of girl detectives was also postponed for its ransom-themed story.

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Is Japanese cinema sinking into a self-censorship swamp?

Reporters Without Borders: New threats against freedom of the press

The targeted suppression or manipulation of the media in conflict regions such as Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories is one of the most significant reasons for the general worsening of worldwide press freedom, according to the 2015 index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The organization said many countries cite the protection of national security interests to impose restrictions on press freedom. "Journalists become the preserve of the opposing parties when control over information is used as a strategic war aim as is the case currently in eastern Ukraine or Syria," said RSF spokesman Michael Rediske in Berlin.

RSF's annual index evaluates the situation of press freedom in 180 countries. It is based on a survey of all aspects of independent journalistic work, which the non-profit organization sends out to hundreds of journalists, researchers, lawyers, and human rights activists worldwide, as well its own network of correspondents. The 87 questions focus on media diversity, media independence, the journalistic environment and self-censorship, the legal system, institutional transparency, as well as media production infrastructure. There is also a category for "acts of violence and infringements," which the Paris-based organization keeps a record of independently. This accounts for all incidents between October 2013 and October 2014.

Many NATO member countries and stable democracies still fall short of a 'good' score

Truth - the first casualty of war

In the notes accompanying the current index, RSF said many of the armed conflicts of the past year were partly conducted as information wars. Whether in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, the war between Israel and Hamas, or in South Sudan, the opposing sides attempted to shut down independent news sources or use them to broadcast their own propaganda.

National security as a cover for repression

In many countries, supposed threats to national security served to justify restrictions on press freedom and other basic civil rights. Russia, for example, used the war with Ukraine to impose further repressive laws, including tightening a ban on publicly denouncing breaches of territorial integrity effectively criminalizing any critique of the annexation of Crimea.

Kazakhstan introduced a law allowing pre-censorship in times of social unrest in order to arm itself for protests such as in Ukraine.

RSF frequently stages demonstrations highlighting journalists' plight

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Reporters Without Borders: New threats against freedom of the press

Busch girlfriend's media manipulation advice to Stewart

When former lovers get into heated court battles there are usually three sides to the story; his, hers and then the truth which tends to lie somewhere in the middle. When it comes to Kurt Busch and his Patricia Driscoll the jury is still out on what exactly that truth may be. Driscoll has accused Busch of being abusive, depressed and having an alcohol problem. Busch has accused Driscoll of being bitter over the breakup and using her skills as a trained assassin to make nothing into something.

When it comes to Driscoll being a trained assassin things took an interesting turn this week thanks to some emails that were received by kickinthetires.net. In the emails Driscoll is communicating with SHR and Tony Stewarts public relations teams in the aftermath of the Kevin Ward Jr. tragedy. As you can see below Driscoll is expressing her interesting in helping the SHR camp manipulate the media, she also makes reference to having connections and having done this sort of thing before.

Below are some excerpts from her emails.

I am writing you because what little know about me you may not know that I have a background in Psychological Operations, (Driscoll wrote, in an email dated Aug. 12, 2014). Part of my training and skill set is to break down large issues and be able to convince large and small groups of people to do what you want. Ive worked in countries all over the world waging not only physical wars but mental wars, and Ive helped get a lot of Congressman save their jobs when they did some stupid and not so legal things.

Between NYC & DC the people I know and work with have saved the reputations of a lot of high profile people from DUIs, sex scandals, DUI that lead to an accident where someone was killed, corruption, drugs, prostitution, etc., (Driscolls email continues). This isnt the time for just in house PR, this is the time for a good 10-15 different heads with different backgrounds putting together a war strategy. This monster is out of control and you only have a short time to steer this ship back around.

Go on the offensive like your life depends on it. Nothing gets better until you fight back. You must campaign for your life. Leverage all of your assets, its time to cash in all of your chips.

If Tony goes to Michigan then the King (Richard Petty) needs to be seen stopping by his trailer by the media, (Driscolls email continues). The media needs to be reminded of the 8 year old boy he accidentally killed while drag racing in 1965. The King has been kept alive financially by NASCAR and a lot of the owners. He should be pressured to be the face of this to help everyone out. All he has to do is talk about how devastating this even has been to him and that it haunts him to this day get emotional and walk off. We need the sympathy factor here for what Tony is going through. If we could get Petty out there before the funeral Thursday that would be best.

start drowning the media before the (Ward) funeral because a crying mom will be the front page of every paper and TV show if we wait and do nothing.

Obviously she did not come out in these emails and say that she was a trained assassin but clearly she is something. Its not everyday that a girlfriend of a driver has this sort of reaction to a tragedy like the one that Stewart was involved in. I suppose you could also say that she was concerned and just trying to be helpful.

What do you think? Be sure to comment below and let us know!

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Busch girlfriend's media manipulation advice to Stewart

#LATR: Religion Discussion – Video


#LATR: Religion Discussion
The #LATR crew gets together to discuss why and what made Ramzi wear a cross and post a picture on a social networking site for the world to see.

By: RK-PRODUCTIONS

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#LATR: Religion Discussion - Video

Facebook Is Not Google – Rant – Video


Facebook Is Not Google - Rant
Facebook is a very popular social networking site however it is not Google. In this video I #39;ll let you know what it should not be used for. FizzStah TV presents Rants, Reviews and Recent News...

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Facebook Is Not Google - Rant - Video