Sanseitō Faces Backlash Over Alleged Media Exclusion from Press Conferences

The issue of Sanseitō (Party of Conscious Citizens), a new political party attracting significant attention, allegedly refusing press conference access to some media outlets is causing a major stir. Particularly, the conflict between the media and the party is deepening after TBS's news program "Hodo Tokushu" announced it would feature this issue in its July 26 broadcast, leading Sanseitō to protest the program's content.

"Hodo Tokushu" announced that its broadcast on the 26th from 5:30 PM would feature a special segment titled "Questioning Sanseitō's 'Media Exclusion'." It plans to delve into the reasons why Sanseitō, despite being a public party, refused press conference coverage to some media outlets after its significant gains in the Upper House election, while also touching upon those gains. Specifically, incidents such as the alleged expulsion of a critical reporter from Kanagawa Shimbun from a press conference are being reported.

In response to this announcement, Sanseitō has revealed that it is protesting the program. On social media, strong debates are unfolding regarding Sanseitō's actions, with opinions sharply divided.

Critics of Sanseitō's actions are vocal, with comments such as "This behavior is unbecoming of a national political party and must be severely criticized" and "Silencing speech is dictatorship." Underlying these views is the perspective that as a public party, it should engage with diverse media and fulfill its accountability.

On the other hand, those defending Sanseitō's actions or critical of existing media largely argue: "The excluded media engage in biased reporting, so this is a legitimate measure," or "It should be described not as 'media exclusion' but as 'old media exclusion' or 'activist exclusion.'" These voices strongly criticize the reporting stance of existing media as "emotional and lacking impartiality" and "doing whatever they please under the guise of freedom of the press." They also condemn the "Hodo Tokushu" feature itself as "negative campaigning," "falling to the dark side," and "starting a fight and making a fool of themselves."

Furthermore, there are voices questioning the program's influence, stating things like, "People who vote for Sanseitō don't watch TV. All that will happen if TV questions media exclusion is that Sanseitō's detractors will rejoice." There are also voices questioning the media's stance, asking, "Are you challenging the limits of Article 4 of the Broadcast Act?"

This issue highlights important contemporary societal debates, such as freedom of the press, the accountability of a public party responsible for national politics, and public trust in existing media. Attention is focused on the July 26 "Hodo Tokushu" broadcast and the subsequent responses from both sides.

The Context

Sanseitō (参政党): The Party of Conscious Citizens. A relatively new conservative political party in Japan, founded in 2020. It gained significant attention and secured one seat in the House of Councillors election in July 2022, marking its entry into national politics. It often promotes alternative views on health, education, and economics, and is critical of mainstream media.

TBS and Hodo Tokushu (報道特集): TBS Television is one of Japan's major commercial broadcasters. Hodo Tokushu (literally "News Special Feature") is a long-running, prominent news program known for its in-depth investigative reports, often taking a critical stance on social and political issues.

"Old Media" vs. "New Media" / "Activist": The article touches on the distrust many Sanseitō supporters have towards what they perceive as "old media" (traditional newspapers, TV broadcasters), accusing them of bias. This mirrors a global trend where alternative viewpoints often clash with established news outlets, leading to accusations of "fake news" or "activist journalism" from both sides.

Broadcast Act Article 4: This article in Japan's Broadcast Act (放送法) outlines principles for broadcasters, including political impartiality, factual reporting, and not harming public order or good morals. It is often cited in discussions about media bias and government regulation of broadcasting, though its legal enforceability regarding impartiality is debated.