Freedom of the Press
In reporting events concerning the slaughter of the dolphins at Taiji, Japan and the illegal killing of the whales by the Antarctic whaling fleet, we often use Japanese media reports as sources of information.
We have received a complaint from one journalist for the Japan Times who has expressed concern that our use of his articles on our website compromises his objectivity. He has requested that we post a statement from him that he is an independent journalist and is not affiliated in any way with Sea Shepherd.
We did post information from his articles without permission of the writer or the publication because it is our belief that this information is public domain. He has requested that we delete his name from any postings on our website that would imply that he may be contributing articles to us directly. We will certainly do so.
We recognize that the Japanese government is becoming increasingly paranoid as international attention continues to build concerning their barbaric slaughter of dolphins and whales. We recognize that the Japanese government may be looking for scapegoats and the media is always the most convenient scapegoat. We hope that this paranoia does not erode the freedom of the press in Japan. It will solve nothing to attack the messenger.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society apologies for any implication that suggests that articles and information we post on our website may imply support for Sea Shepherd activities or principles by the journalists or publications that we obtained the articles or information from.
The message from the journalist is posted below:
To: Mr. Paul Watson
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
I am a contributing investigative correspondent for the Japan Times and have seen my name mentioned in news accounts posted under Sea Shepherd's Taiji dolphin Campaign. Much of the material was taken from Japan Times online articles including interviews I conducted with government officials and Japanese scientists related to high mercury levels in small cetacean food products. The specific news accounts were posted 12/19/05 and 08//03/07. Please delete my name from any news accounts posted by Sea Shepherd.
All of my articles related to Japan's dolphin hunts are the result of objective reporting and I do not sanction any conservation organization or government agency involved in this activity. Since there seems to be a Japanese media taboo on the dolphin hunts and related issues, it may appear as though the Japan Times and this reporter are somehow promoting this issue to benefit the efforts of some organizations opposed to the Japanese drive fisheries. If this were true, our credibility as journalists would be seriously flawed.
We always follow a neutral position in our reporting. An editorial committee oversees final approval of any of our articles which are always vigorously checked for dead-on accuracy. The basic tenets of good journalism is to focus the spotlight on issues that may affect the welfare of the public. Accordingly we have highlighted the high mercury levels we have found in dolphin meat in order to raise the awareness of the health hazards involved in the consumption of small cetacean food products. We are not in the PR business and do not seek to promote the agenda of any organization and have no affiliation with any conservation groups nor do we accept donations from any of these groups. I have been a journalist for almost 50 years and have never, nor will I ever, alter or delete any facts from an article based on my personal views nor is it my job to characterize any organization in a positive or negative way, but only report the facts. I personally do not support, nor am I a member of, any conservation organization. In line with maintaining truth in reporting, we are following, in the true spirit of Japan's Constitutional Article 21, the pursuit of news events unimpeded by censorship which is prohibited under the article's mandates and guarantees of a Free Press in Japan.
ワシントン州フライデイ港
シー･シェパード自然保護協会
ポール･ワトソン様
件名：否認証明
私はジャパン・タイ ズ紙に寄稿している調査 道記者です。
貴殿シー･シェパードの「太地町イルカキャンペーン」関連の広
記事に私の名前が掲載されていることを知りました。貴殿が
引用した資料の多くは、ジャパン･タイ ズのオンライン記事から
のものです。その中に、小型鯨類の肉を原料とする食品の
高濃度水銀含有量問題について、日本の政府高官および
科学者に私がインタビューした内容が含まれています。具体的には、
2005年１２月１９日と２００７年８月３日付けのニュース記事です。
シー･シェパード発行のあらゆる記事から、私の名前を削除して
く さい。日本のイルカ漁に関する私の記事はすべて、客観的な
道記事であり、私個人はいかなる自然保護団体 けでなく
その活動に関与する政府機関を支持するものでもありません。
イルカ漁およびその関連事 に関して、日本のメディアは大変
神経質になっております。貴団体の広 活動に引用されることに
よって、ジャパン・タイ ズ紙も記者であるこの私も、日本の
追い込み漁に反対する団体のPRに 担していると誤解されて
いるようです。そうであれば、ジャーナリストとしての我々の信用と
信憑性が著しく傷つくことになります。我々は 道において常に
中立の立 を 持しています。寄稿記事に対しては、編集委員会
が最終判断を行い、記事の内容が正確であることが周到にチェック
されます。人々の福利に関わる課題に焦点を絞ることこそ、ジャー
ナリズ 本来の基本原則です。我々の本来の目的は、イルカ肉から
検出された高い水銀含有量のレベルに注目し、小型鯨類の肉を
原料とする食品における有害性に読者の注意を喚起することです。
我々には、特定の組織を利する意図も無く、自然保護団体との協力
関係もありません。従っていかなる団体からの寄付金も受け取らない
方針を徹底しています。
私は５０年近くジャーナリストをやっておりますが、私見で事実を変え
たり省いたりして記事を書いたことは一度も無く、今後もあり得ません。
また、当然のことながら、特定の組織を肯定的あるいは否定的に描く
ことはなく、事実をありのまま 道する けであります。私自身も、いか
なる自然保護団体の支援者でもメンバーでもありません。
真実のみを追求することはもちろん、検閲を禁止し、 道の自由を保障
する、日本国憲法第２１条の精神に則って 道をしております。
２００８年１月２９日
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