Reaction Paper about Journalism: The Japan Experience

The report of Mr. Newmar Romero and Jenebeth Velasco talks about the mass
media of Japan. We've learned that Japan's mass media is quite similar with those in
any developed nation. Its primary characteristics are the influence of national daily
newspapers and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Nihon Hoso Kyokai, or NHK).
The national daily newspapers are also involved in other media. All of the commercial
television networks are either affiliated with or owned by a national newspaper. They
are also heavily involved in radio broadcasting, although their presence is less
influential. Japanese book and magazine readership is also impressive. In addition,
advertising industry began developing together with the newspaper.

The advancement of mass media such as television, newspapers, magazines

and radio contributed in no small measure to the economic development of Japan in the
second half of the 20th century. It was TV that did the most to evolve the country’s
sophisticated mass consumption society against that economic background. Since the
debut of TV, Japanese people have viewed the world’s news and experienced the
world’s joys and griefs through the medium of TV while pursuing a life of affluence.
While the media landscape is still biased toward print and legacy media today, the
Internet is playing an increasingly larger role in Japan’s media landscape every year.
The spread of smartphones and smart devices, which are now owned by nearly two-
thirds of all people living in the country, has fuelled the growth and influence of social
media networks and news aggregators, and nearly all legacy media have their own
online outlet now. 

All across the world, the influence of modern media is changing people’s lives
and Japanese society is no different. Media can influence the way people think, feel and
act. As technology becomes more advanced and accessibility of various media sources
becomes easier for everyone, the influences of advertising, radio, TV and the movies
continue to make a greater impact on society. 
Reaction Paper about Journalism: Thailand, in the eyes of its Media

The broadcast media in Thailand is highly regulated and careful not to offend the
ruling political party. A very popular political satire in the 1940s and 50s was cancelled
in 1954 after the American occupation ended, setting the tone of the postwar era. It was
the first example of freedom of opinion being suppressed. People in the media worry
about going too far and having the same thing happen to them.

 Freedom of speech and press is guaranteed by the constitution of Thailand as a

fundamental human right. Its high literacy rate and its people's thirst for new and
stimulating information has sustained the mass media's appeal. In the past several
decades, advances in computer and digital-communications technology have brought
many changes to existing print and broadcast media while also creating a brand new
mass media in the form of the Internet-based World Wide Web.

 The media often seems to cover stories in a way that supports the political
agenda of Japan leaders. Certain subjects cannot be criticized such the Imperial Family
or the government's portrayal of North Korea as a wicked country. If someone dares to
challenge these views they not only have to face wrath of scornful politicians they also
have to deal with far-right extremist who have threatened and tried to assassinate
people who presented views they didn't like.

Thailand is very open for the LGBTQ community, that’s why shows here, may it
be in television and movies, despite any gender, is very open. That makes Thailand
becoming more popular in the mainstream world. Upon further research, their actors in
the BL community is becoming more known not just on the movies and television, but
also online.

As the media there progress, it is becoming more liberated, exploring new

heights and depth of new innovations, making the media of Thailand dynamic. Relating
it to the new trends of media around the world, I can say is that, their media is slowly but
surely is adapting to the modern world.