So, when I first heard that NBC had had a report on j-pop group Morning Musume I was actually quite happy that they were getting exposure in the western world, but when I actually saw the clip I was disgusted.
Hit the jump for my take (read: long rant) on this whole shebang.
This is a perfect example of ignorance in the media. The research for this report probably consists of a quick Google search and some crazy guess work, in addition they mention an episode of The Simpsons which we all know is a reliable source for consistent facts with no sarcasm or jokes whatsoever. The fact that they don’t even know who the man who started Hello! Project, Tsunku, is and that they call him “mysterious” is proof that they haven’t done their research properly. They even compare the group to prostitution by saying that Tsunku takes all the money and that the girls don’t get to keep anything like he’s some kind of pimp. This obviously isn’t true as they’re all damn sure to earn a lot from their many activities.
There are in fact cultural differences to consider here, and I can understand that many Americans don’t get much influence from other cultures since the country is so isolated and big that, as far as I’ve understood, going to another state is like going to another country for us in Europe. I can’t blame anyone for that, but trying to understand other cultures before bashing them is key to being a good journalist.
One way they could – and should – have approached the subject is by talking to the people who know something about it, namely fans. I don’t know where they’ve got their so-called facts from, but they never mention asking anyone about how it all works. They seem to have just pulled the story out of their asses and salted it, eaten it and pulled it out of their asses again for good measure.
What this report ends up as is an obvious smear job. Without explicitly saying it, they portray Japan as a weird country with a dirty and horrible entertainment industry, like American entertainment is superior beyond comparison and glorious all around. It’s not like American entertainment is the best thing that happened since the wheel, and comparing MoMusu to Spice Girls and a Mickey Mouse Club is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Since it’ll take way too much time to explain to the uninitiated how Japanese entertainment really is, I’ll just say: Google it! It’s best to experience the greatness first-hand.
I’ll try to learn a lesson from NBC here. Following their example, say, if I don’t like broccoli, I’d absolutely have to go on national television (which equals global television thanks to the internet and the fact that American news spread like the plague) and smear the reputation of broccoli as a healthy vegetable and all the farmers across the world growing it. Ah, I feel like an NBC employee already.
With that I’d like to say to NBC:
SHAME ON YOU! You’re supposed to enlighten people, right? Then why do you present lies and ignorance as facts? The report didn’t even hold any news value. The clips used were old and there was not a single bit of information vital to the well-being of the American people in the report, unless you feel that exposure to the excellence of Japanese entertainment is evil.
I would like you to use a “smear job warning” sign whenever you present these kinds of reports from now on, so that people know that they’re being lied to.
As they said, “Japanese shows punish ignorance”. Let’s check it out on the folks from NBC. Watch out guys, ‘cuz there’s a lot of punishment coming your way.
I hope Izam-san eats you!
1 Comment
April 23, 2009 at 9:09 am
“One way they could – and should – have approached the subject is by talking to the people who know something about it, namely fans”
i really ,REALLY agree with you on this one.
what nbc did was just google it and search for 5 minutes, and then just think up some theories to make it more interesting.
thank you for this post