How the media will survive September 11th 16:10

The current situation of mass media such as television and newspapers is becoming increasingly severe year by year. The viewing time and audience rating of TV is decreasing, especially among young people, and the number of newspaper publications is steadily decreasing. And it is the American media that is in a more severe situation. In the United States, I heard that there was a study group for news media, with the number of participants increasing year by year, and decided to participate. How are American media trying to survive? What has been seen in the interview on site ... (International Department reporter Kohei Tsuji)

Teaching "Trade Secret"

It was a surprising sight. This is because nearly 2,000 reporters gathered in one venue and taught the interview method casually.

I visited IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors), which is said to be one of the world's largest media events.

This year's annual general meeting was held in June in Houston, Texas in the United States for four days. More than 200 courses are held at the venue hotel, and the lecturer is a front-line reporter.

Lectures are held for each theme that reporters can't help but be interested in, such as "How did you get that special", "How to make information sources", "Use the information disclosure system".

In the Japanese media industry, it is often legal to teach other companies how to interview. In particular, the special coverage method is a “trade secret” and is rarely leaked to competitors. That was a fresh experience for me.

How to make information sources

In the “How to Make Information Sources” course, which was so popular that the standing up, a reporter from the New York Times, who received the Pulitzer Prize twice for excellent coverage, served as a lecturer. "I'd like to share some coffee, then write a thank-you letter because it's okay, handwritten. By doing so, you can build a relationship of trust."

Handwritten letters are often used in Japan, but a steady effort that continues every day leads to building trust. I thought I was going down.

In addition, in the course of “How to interview non-interviewers”, a reporter who received the Pulitzer Prize at the non-profit news organization “Publica” gave a lecture.

People who are in the midst of incidents and accidents that have attracted public attention said that there are not many cases in which interviews will be realized if they approach again in a few months or years after being pressed by each media immediately after the occurrence. It was.

He did not deny the interview competition immediately after the outbreak, but emphasized the significance of conducting deeper interviews after a while.

Reporters struggling in harsh environments

American media is in a more difficult situation than Japan. The number of reporters working in the United States decreased by 25% from 114,000 to 86,000 in the 10 years to 2018. Dismissal by a newspaper company that fell into management difficulties is the main factor.

There are even words such as “News Desert” where news covering local news disappears.

When I talked to an American reporter who was at the IRE venue, I heard various voices trying to find a way through trial and error.

The voice mourns that the genre of news handled to keep readers connected has changed, and that gourmet information and sensational incident reports have increased.

On the other hand, many media say that the media is not an article that resembles the content, such as the announcement of the government and companies, but that it is focusing on original research coverage and production of original content not found in other media It was.

What President Trump has brought

Even more serious for American media is the swaying of credibility. In a survey conducted in 2018 by American research firm Gallup, only 45% of respondents said they trust the media, down by about 25 points over the last 40 years.

It is said that the birth of President Trump has had a great influence on the reliability of the media. As a result of continuing to attack the media criticizing itself as “fake news,” some presidential supporters are no longer trusting the media reports.

“There is no time for more reliable news reports”

Doug Hadicks, IRE's Secretary General, spoke about the impact of the turbulence in media credibility.

“The biggest authority, the president, attacks the credibility of the media and spreads it on SNS. In this world where information is overflowing, people start to believe only what they want to believe, leading to a division of society. Democracy can fall into a crisis in a society where the credibility and importance of the media fluctuates. "

However, Mr. Hadicks points out a positive aspect. The number of reporters participating in the IRE annual meeting has increased year by year as the number of reporters has declined significantly across the country. The number of attendees at the general meeting is about 2,000.

Since the appearance of President Trump, donations to IRE have continued to increase. On the background, Mr. Hadicks pointed out that there is a growing expectation for reliable reporting.

“In order to regain trust, there is no time when the media's research coverage and power monitoring functions are as important as it is now. The number of IRE participants is increasing, as reporters refine their reporting skills and meet the needs of viewers and readers. It's a sign of trying to respond. "

How to regain lost trust

One of the media that Trump is targeting is the New York Times. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the paper by name, using strong words that it is a “national enemy”.

Last year NHK interviewed Dean Bake, Editor-in-Chief of the New York Times, about how they face readers and seek trust. Therefore, Mr. Bake cited “transparency of the interview process” as a keyword.

“How the media is reporting and writing articles. If you show mistakes or show that you are writing in trouble, you can trust the article.”

The New York Times is actually doing a bold move. I let an external program production company freely report on how the reporter interviewed and the article was completed, and the process of reporting and editing.

It was broadcast on a program called “The Fourth Estate -First 100days-” (2018) (2018).

In the program, the desk that claims that the information is not sufficiently backed up, the scene where reporters interviewed collide, and the scene where the Washington office and the New York headquarters are discussing the start and stop over the tone of an article criticizing the Trump administration Showing without wrapping up.

For the media, it is an idea that cannot be considered in Japan, such as photographing the part that can be said to be the heart of the media and releasing it.


Bake talks about this as follows:

“We did n’t have the right to edit the program, so it was risky and we were able to see the parts we did n’t want to show. `` I wanted you to see how much ordinary people are, so that by seeing our reality, we can understand that we are normal people with blood. ''

Mr. Bake said that the broadcast had a great response and that the viewers said they had increased reliability.

“We witnessed that the reporters weren't disgusting guys trying to impose one-sided views, but people who were trying to understand the world through our editorial meetings. is"

Blown up radio station

After covering IRE for 4 days, I decided to visit the local public radio station "Pacifica Station" in Houston.

This is because I was wondering what kind of thoughts are being broadcast as the same public media. I checked the address and found that there was a radio station in a renovated small two-story detached house.

Pacifica Station broadcasts to Houston and surrounding areas.

Of the 25 staff, only three are paid and the rest are run by volunteers.

Most of the airtime played music, and the news I was interested in was only briefly broadcast between music.

When I was a little disappointed, the volunteer James Nagel, who guided me, told me there was something I wanted to show and took me to an exhibition space about half a tatami mat on the staircase landing.

There was a lump of iron about 1 meter long. This is an indispensable transmitter for radio broadcasting and was recovered from the site where the transmission facility was blown up in 1970.

The bombing was a crime by a white supremacy organization called KKK (Ku Kraks Klang). This is a conservative area, and many say that the radio station appeals to the rights of women, blacks and gays.

If you can't use a transmitter, you can't broadcast. After the bombing incident, people donated one after another when they were unable to recover due to insufficient budget. A new transmitter was purchased with the donation and broadcasting resumed. However, the transmitter will be blown up again the following year. At this time, I was able to resume broadcasting with citizens' donations.

The third-generation transmitter purchased at this time is still in operation. Mr. Nagel said, “When something bad happens, it tends to be depressed, but then good things happen. After that, the citizens supported us not to allow the freedom of press and freedom of speech.” He told me.

“Trust” is the key to survival

Nagel-san finally showed me bricks and five $ 100 bills.

It was brought by a man who visited a radio station several years ago. The bricks were the ones men had thrown into the windows of radio stations before because they did n’t like the content.

Later, while listening to the broadcast, men began to believe that the appeals for the elimination of racism and the protection of gay rights were correct, and the radio station began to feel reliable.

The brick contained an apology for the man's own past actions, and the $ 100 banknote expressed his desire to continue broadcasting. Media that earns the trust of viewers and readers can survive and be supported by citizens. I felt such a message.

To be trusted and needed

How are American reporters trying to survive in the midst of a dramatic change in the media environment? This time I started to know it.

On the last day of the interview, I met a media that was supported by the trust of local residents.

Do they gain the trust and need of viewers and readers? What should we do to be so? I feel that I was able to get some hints from “colleagues” who struggle in a harsh environment.

International Department Reporter Kohei Tsuji
Joined in 2002. After working at Tottori Bureau, Jerusalem Correspondent, Morioka Bureau, Political Department, etc.