ＢＰＯ勧告―自律が放送の自由を守る

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 13(IHT/Asahi: August 14,2009)
EDITORIAL: Broadcasting ethics
ＢＰＯ勧告―自律が放送の自由を守る

The Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) is an industry watchdog run by the Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) and commercial networks. It recently made strict demands of two television companies.
　放送倫理・番組向上機構（ＢＰＯ）は放送界の「お目付け役」だ。ＮＨＫと民放で作る第三者機関である。それが二つの局に厳しい注文をつけた。

It told Nippon Television Network Corp. (NTV) to make a program to clarify erroneous reporting on the program "Shinso Hodo Bankisha!" and demanded Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Inc. (TBS) take "appropriate measures" over a "serious violation of broadcasting ethics" by its program "Sunday Japon."
　日本テレビ「真相報道バンキシャ！」の誤報には検証番組の制作を、ＴＢＳ「サンデー・ジャポン」の「重大な放送倫理違反」には「しかるべき措置」を求めた。

In both cases, the organization issued "advisories," the most serious category of recommendations. It issued a wake-up call about problems with program production, after delving into the causes of false reporting.
いずれも結論としては一番重い「勧告」だ。原因を詳しく調べ、制作態勢の問題に警鐘を鳴らした。

With regard to "Bankisha," the BPO once again pointed out its inadequacy in corroborating its coverage. Because of poor communication between NTV employees who direct coverage and the production company crew that goes on location to do the actual reporting, work to dig into the truth instead became an exercise to "procure" comments and images in time for the program to air.
　「バンキシャ」では、裏付け取材のお粗末さが改めて指摘された。取材を指示するテレビ局員と現場に行く制作会社スタッフの意思疎通が不十分で、真実を追求するはずの取材が、放送日に間に合わせて言葉と映像を「調達する」作業になっていた。

"Sunday Japon" put together images that were shot on different days to give viewers a false impression. The comment of a personality who appeared on the show was also misleading. Personalities appeared on the live program without being given basic information. The situation exposed a disturbing lack of journalistic awareness from a program that purports to be a news show.
　「サンデー・ジャポン」は別の日に撮影した映像をつなげて放送し、視聴者に誤った印象を与えた。出演タレントのコメントも間違っていた。タレントは、基本的な情報も知らされないまま生放送に臨んでいた。ニュースを扱っているのに報道の意識があまりに薄い制作態勢が浮き彫りになった。

This time, the BPO addressed such problems as sloppy fact checking, programming that gives first priority to images without delving deeper into the issues and a lack of understanding among concerned parties. These problems are hidden in many parts of television programs. We can almost hear sighs of disappointment within the advisories that ask why such situations are repeated.
　今回指摘された、事実確認のずさんさ、本質に迫ろうとしない映像優先の構成、関係者の理解不足といった問題は、テレビ番組のあちこちに潜んでいる。勧告書からは「どうしてこうも似たようなことが繰り返されるのか」というため息が聞こえてくる。

The BPO comprises members chosen from outside the broadcasting industry who discuss problems and come up with advisories and views. It is a matter of course for television stations that receive warnings to respect them. At the same time, the broadcasting industry as a whole also needs to seriously accept them.
　ＢＰＯは、放送界の外から選ばれた委員が議論し、勧告や見解を示す。指摘された各局がそれを尊重することはもちろんだが、放送界全体としても深刻に受け止めなければならない。

Tsutomu Sato, minister of internal affairs and communications, made a comment that we find worrisome. Referring to the BPO, he said some people held the view that the watchdog made decisions to suit itself. Based on that observation, he went on to propose the establishment of a "system to constantly examine and monitor programs by an organization with certain powers" that keeps a certain distance from the ministry.
　気がかりな発言がある。佐藤総務相が、ＢＰＯが「お手盛り的な運用になっているのではないかという意見もある」とし、総務省から少し離れたところに「ある程度の権限を持った機関が、常に番組を精査し、監視するシステムがあってもいい」と提案した。

We don't think the BPO is run to suit itself. The comment, which could lead to the regulation of program content by the government, is very questionable.
　ＢＰＯの運用は「お手盛り」とは言えない。政府による番組の内容規制につながりかねない発言は大いに疑問だ。

Coverage of trials for the 1999 murder of a mother and child in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture, illustrates the functions of the BPO.
　ＢＰＯの機能を示す例が、山口県光市の母子殺人事件の裁判報道だ。

Since many programs effectively criticized efforts to defend the accused, the BPO urged broadcasters to rethink their approach to criminal trials.
被告を弁護することが悪であるかのような番組があふれていたため、刑事裁判の基本を考えるよう各局に注意を促した。

As a result, many programs adjusted their stance to better consider human rights.
その結果、多くの番組が人権に配慮する姿勢に変わった。

Such efforts enhance the quality of broadcasts.
こうした積み重ねが放送の質を高めていく。

Some of the crew of "Bankisha" reportedly did not even know about the BPO.
　「バンキシャ」にはＢＰＯの存在すら知らないスタッフがいたという。

Unless broadcasters thoroughly educate staff, the same mistakes will be repeated.
現場への教育が徹底しなければ、同じ間違いがまた起きる。

If broadcasters continue to produce programs that undermine the trust of viewers, they could encourage moves by the administration to interfere in program production and impose regulations.
視聴者の信頼を損なう番組作りが続けば、行政の介入や規制を招きかねない。

NTV plans to shortly air a program to clarify its false reporting on "Bankisha."
　日本テレビは近く「バンキシャ」の検証番組を放送する。

We urge it to recover trust through sincere reflection and thorough examination, because autonomy is the path to protect broadcasting freedom.
誠実な反省と綿密な検証で信頼を回復してほしい。自律が放送の自由を守る道だからだ。