The Japanese Journalist in Transition: Continuity and Change

Japanese journalism embraces the principles of societal service, press freedom, editorial independence, and, like its Western counterparts, is undergoing substantial change. Throughout the past two decades, newspapers and broadcasters have had diminished sales and advertising profits. Internet news is more popular than ever—especially among the younger generation—and technological advancements have rapidly spread media that are available on personal computers and mobile phones. While 70% of the Japanese public rates their nation’s press as reliable and satisfying (National Opinion Survey on the Media 2010), a better understanding is necessary of how these economic and technological changes affect journalism in Japan.