Community Newspaper: Keeper of Democracy

The most important role of community-based media is acting as the keeper of democracy. Freedom of speech is the very foundation of a free country, Misao Mizukubo shared in Nihongo during our visit with 14 other young journalists and communication students in Nagano, Japan.

“To remain in the game, the media should be an opinion leader and should reflect the voice of the residents in a community,” he told delegates.

Mizukubo is the President of Ohito Times, a community newspaper that operates in Omachi Town since 1927. It prints some 13,000 copies six times a week.

“Also, if there is an issue in your community, try to facilitate different opinions from the people and help in finding a solution,” he added, emphasizing that media should act as link between people and the government.

Mizukubo also shared that one strength of a community newspaper is it deals more with local issues which affect more the people they are serving.

According to him, local news and issues come first before national matters.

Meanwhile, decade-long journalist Kayori Uchiyama also shared how she does her work effectively as a community journalist.

“I relate more to whatever local issues our community is facing, because I am a resident myself. This makes me more effective as a journalist,” she said in Nihongo. Uchiyama covered various events in their community including a devastating earthquake which also destroyed her home.

Uchiyama said that in covering events, she always goes for developmental news in order to give readers a break from a world filled with bad news.

Another thing delegates learned from the visit is how the company is still focusing its efforts in printed materials than digital.

Mizukubo said that though they have online presence, majority of the Japanese especially in Nagano still prefer to read print.

He said that as journalists, medium shouldn’t be the focus but the discipline