Photo/Illutration Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase at the prefectural government office in Kanazawa on April 4 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase’s refusal to hold a news conference is a totally unacceptable attempt to exert pressure on the media by abusing his political status.

Hase refused to hold a regular news conference slated for March after clashing with local TV station Ishikawa Television Broadcasting Co. over a program it aired. The company’s president further ignited Hase’s ire by refusing to respond to a request to attend his own news conference. As a result, the governor decided not to hold the regular news conference.

The row between the local government chief and the TV station broke out after the broadcaster last year released a documentary film titled “Hadaka no Mura” (Naked village). Hase claims there are problems with the way the film handles issues concerning the “right of portrait” as it uses video footage showing prefectural government employees who were never given an opportunity to consent or object to being filmed.

Ishikawa Television countered by saying it was not necessary to obtain the consent of local government officials for the project, which it labeled a journalistic product designed to serve the public interest. The governor and the TV station have been at loggerheads over the issue since January.

Hase said he asked the TV station president to attend his news conference so they can discuss the issue in the public domain. Citing the seriousness of the issue, Hase contended the dispute should not be settled behind closed doors.

He has got it all wrong.

The governor’s regular news conferences are opportunities for the local government head to fulfill his responsibility to explain his policy decisions and actions to the public by answering questions from media outlets and thereby serve the people’s right to know. His discontent with a specific broadcaster, even if it is legitimate, offers no justification for refusing to hold news conferences.

The video footage in the film Hase has cited was shot in public spaces like the prefectural assembly floor. In addition, the prefectural government employees filmed were performing their official duties. Hase’s argument is hardly convincing.

Hase has repeatedly maintained there are “ethical” problems with the movie, although he has not resorted to legal action to seek judicial judgment on the issue. He has even proposed that the broadcaster examine the way the film was shot and directed and report the results back to him.

This all seems to suggest that Hase is only making a groundless protest against the film, which critically describes his local administration, to suppress news reports he does not like. He should stop trying to intimidate news outlets by taking news conferences “hostage,” so to speak.

Holding regular news conferences was one of his campaign promises. In his first regular news conference one year ago after his inauguration, Hase said, “I consider discussions with you (the media) as discussions with the people in the prefecture.” “Ask me any questions and I will make sincere responses.”

His words indicated a good understanding of the role of the media and an encouraging willingness to face it.

Now, however, he is showing a disheartening lack of commitment to dialogue with the public or the media and speaking and acting in ways that contradict his own promises. That is deplorable.

A governor has huge influence over the local communities within his or her jurisdiction. Hase should immediately stop wearing his cap of authority and abusing that power.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 8

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