In reading Mr. Sawa's responses to our questions, many of you were deeply impressed by two issues in particular: that of bias and that of anonymity in Japan.
"Every single choice in newsgathering and news editing is subjective."
As Fukumi put it: "I was surprised Mr. Sawa said he didn't blame bias in journalism. I usually think bias is not a good thing. However, I was convinved it exactly provides wider perspective and choice because people have their own gauge of importance of news."
Rika mentioned that the quesion of which news makes the top page made her think about the issue of bias.
For Takemasa, the confirmation that news comes to us filtered by journalists and editors made him think about the importance of "the skill to realize or notice whether the news you're reading is true or partly true or false. This is kind of similar to 'critical thinking'."
"I am afraid people here value too highly leaving people alone, perhaps not thinking seriously that it means letting things be done by somebody else, perhaps authorities, whom you perhaps assume are trustworthy. I doubt that it is democracy."
This statement deeply impressed you. Takemasa mentioned that he still associates showing a complete profile online with risk and danger. Fukumi said that she hadn't thought of this tendency as a fault, but as a "Japanese characteristic." Rika noted, "I never realized [that Japanese news were more anonymous] since I only know the news style in Japan."
Fukumi seemed persuaded by Mr. Sawa: "I can understand journalism makes the world visible and provides crucial things for democracy, so I think we should be more sensitive to what happens in the world and speak out our opinions little by little." But Takemasa wanted more details on the link between speaking out and democracy.
On the fact that Mr. Sawa began reading the news for fun as a child, Takemasa ventured that we should try to approach reading the news not as study but out of the love for it, as if it was a hobby.
Some of you still had some questions. Wataru wondered when it was that Mr. Sawa began to think of the news as "the first rough draft of history," and how it was possible to get information from so many different angles and yet to remain impartial.
It is obvious that you enjoyed the thoughts that Mr. Sawa shared. As Rika put it, "thank you so much for answering our questions and sharing your impressive stories."
