What is Happening at a News Scene? (Part Ⅱ)

Results of 2007 Survey on NHK Reporters and Cameramen

March 2008

The part II of “What is Happening at a News Scene?” features responses from 681 reporters and photographers on “complaints,” “press clubs,” “investigative journalism,” “battle for scoops,” and “job satisfaction” as well as free comments.

-Most cited complaints, apart from a series of scandals involving NHK, are “magnitude of news coverage” and “way of news gathering.” One out of four respondents has received these complaints.
-Regarding press clubs, which is often criticized from outsiders, 65% of the respondents “prefer to have them,” with many pointing out that “press clubs are indispensable to vie with the authorities” or “they are convenient hubs for news gathering.” Those who prefer to abolish press clubs because “freedom of news reporting should never be limited” or for other reasons are far outnumbered (4.7%).
-To reflect their journalistic professionalism, 71% think “battles for scoops are necessary.” This figure endorses the fact that they are eager to get a scoop although they know its cost-effectiveness is rather low.
-26% of the respondents engage in investigative journalism, but more people, 86%, are aspired to do so.
-As for job satisfaction, 26% respondents are satisfied with their jobs while 27% are not, accounting for almost the same percentages. Those who have engaged in investigative journalism or have moved the government with their reports marked high level of satisfaction while many of those struggling to make results showed frustration, saying, “I am too snowed under with filling in local news to pursue satisfactory news gathering.”
-For the further improvement of news report, many call for an increase in the number of reporters and photographers. The second most cited requests were “enrichment of reporters’ training” among reporters and “providing better equipment” among photographers.

-Free comments include opinions such as “although the relationship between the news department and local bureaus is supposed to be equal, the news department is actually in stronger position.” Veteran reporters express concern about the “news gathering ability” of those who rely too much on the Internet. Many of these opinions are candid ones, which highlight how active and courageous reporters and photographers at news scenes are despite wearing conditions.

The NHK Monthly Report on Broadcast Research