Q. How will emerging technologies change how we produce, distribute, consume and share news and information in Japan? A. Emerging technologies are not necessarily good for journalism as far as I see it. Of course, they allow rapid dissemination of news, but they also tend to favor quick, shallow reports -- headlines, brief synopses without any background, etc. If journalists and publishers aren't creative, we'll be tied more and more to deadlines and provide less and less insight. That was already happening before the birth of i-mode.
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"I don?t believe that technology is necessarily a journalist?s friend. At the same time, the Internet has given publications like the one I edit a much bigger audience than it ever would have had otherwise." |
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I don't believe that technology is necessarily a journalist's friend. At the same time, the Internet has given publications like the one I edit a much bigger audience than it ever would have had otherwise. There are plenty of benefits, but journalists need to be aware of the pitfalls as well.Q. What do you see making the biggest impact right now, in terms of technology, when it comes to news and information in Japan? A. I think that while Japan is seen as a wireless playground of sorts, the most powerful tools for news and information are the P2P applications, like Napster and its offshoots, that allow us to share information outside of the control of large media companies. The power of these applications has the media and entertainment industries in Japan and in the West scrambling to figure out how to contain them. Q. J@pan Inc describes Japan as the "test bed for the world's digital, robotic and wireless future." What do you think is the biggest development on the horizon that will change how news and information is produced and consumed?
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"In many ways, youth culture drives the market, and that's why so much of what has come out of Japan has been fun, colorful and trendy, but not something that is going to change the face of journalism." |
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A. Japan is developing as a unique market. For example, the success of i-mode is unlikely to be repeated at quite the same level anywhere else. Japan will inevitably give the world an inkling of the potential of wireless technology, I believe. Its young people have been touted as examples of "smart mobs" that exchange information quickly and wirelessly. There will probably always be interest in Japan and how it develops and adapts to technology. It will be a trendsetter for years to come. But I don't see any of its technology drastically altering the production and consumption of news and information.Q. Who do you see leading the digital revolution in Japan and how? A. I think that "digital revolution" is overstating the case. There are tremendous changes taking place, for sure, but they aren't revolutionary yet and may never be... The citizenry could well lead the charge, but so far companies have dictated what people get, which is why the really big changes in Japan -- using the small screen, charging people by packets of data, turning the phone into a multipurpose device -- are really, really interesting, but hardly revolutionary. Q. What can other countries learn from Japan's technological advancements? A. They can learn the potential for wireless technology. The West can learn a whole new approach to robots and robotics. Japan will be a technological leader for years and years to come. It is right now despite the economic malaise. Q. If Japan is so technologically advanced, why is it so far behind Europe and America in adopting the Web as a source of news? A. I don't think it is behind Europe and the United States in adopting the Web as a source of news. And I don't think that adopting the Web as a source of news is necessarily advanced. People who read Japanese know that while the mainstream media may be slow to adapt to the Web, there is a wealth of alternative sites out there.
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"Too much power is concentrated in a handful of media outlets. Technological advances only increase the conglomerates' power." |
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Japan is not necessarily an early adapter. It was slow to take to the cell phone. The United States and Europe were well ahead of Japan in cell phone use in the early 1990s, but Japan has blown both of them away. The Europeans and Americans have a habit of underestimating the Japanese, and they're constantly proven wrong.Q. Do you see Japanese culture playing a role in how new technologies are developed and adapted? A. Youth culture in Japan plays a big role. It's an old story that content providers, Web companies and fashion designers gather Shibuya kids together to gauge what the next hot products will be. In many ways, youth culture drives the market, and that's why so much of what has come out of Japan has been fun, colorful and trendy, but not something that is going to change the face of journalism. Q. What do you think of journalism in Japan? How do you think it can be improved? A. The problem with Japanese journalism is similar to the problem with journalism around the world: Too much power is concentrated in the hands of a handful of media outlets. Technological advances only increase the conglomerates' power. The huge newspaper publishers also dominate on television, for example. There are plenty of dedicated, good Japanese journalists and a dearth of outlets for their work. It's the same all over. Q. As a print and online magazine producer, what do you see as the future of journalism in Japan, and what role will emerging technologies play in the industry? A. Journalism in Japan should question the status quo, inform the readership and not be indebted to vested interests. Otherwise, it's worthless. Technology may or may not help. It depends on the will and the desire of the individual journalist and publisher. Rutledge previously worked for Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), The Nikkei Weekly and Universal News Japan. He has lived in Japan on and off for more than 15 years and the Web sites he frequents include Nikkei Net, NewsOnJapan.com and NEAsia Online. Where do you think the Internet, wireless and other technologies are taking journalism in Japan? Share your views with us -- please fill out our Q&A form and send it to editor@JapanMediaReview.com. We will publish select replies.
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