Ryukyu Shimpo and Sanin Chuo win 2013 Japan Newspaper Association Prize for joint project

Ryukyu Shimpo and Sanin Chuo win 2013 Japan Newspaper Association Prize for joint project

The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association has decided that its prize for 2013 will be awarded to the Ryukyu Shimpo and the Sanin Chuo Shimpo for the joint project "Meguri no Umi" (People around the Ocean rim).


September 5, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On September 4, the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association decided to award its 2013 editing and planning department prize to the Ryukyu Shimpo and Sanin Chuo Shimpo for their joint project “Meguri no Umi” (People around the Ocean rim).

Ryukyu Shimpo wins the prize for the fourth time in eight years, and the Shimane-based Sanin Chuo Shimpo for the first time. The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association’s prizes are awarded to works of the three departments of news, editing and planning, and photograph and film.

There were 74 applications for the award this year, including 46 to the editing and planning department. The Hokkaido Shimbun also wins the prize for the editing and planning department for its work titled “History of Japan and Russia on the ground.”

“Meguri no Umi” was published in both the newspapers from February 22 to June 23 this year. In response to tension between Japan and China, as well as Taiwan, over the Senkaku Islands, and between Japan and South Korea over Takeshima, the newspapers reported on the territorial issues from the point of view of people who live in the vicinity. Listening to the voices from local people in Okinawa and Shimane, and those from China, Taiwan and South Korea, they delivered a vision that does not provoke an armed conflict. They visited other foreign countries and regions involved in the territorial disputes to find the key to resolving the problems.

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The association was impressed with the article in which both newspapers had thoroughly taken on board the views of the fishermen and ordinary people living around the disputed sea borders in Japan and China, Taiwan and Korea. It pointed out that the territorial issue was easy to connect to nationalism, but they asked readers to be calm and to explore peaceful solutions.

The award ceremony will be held in the 66th National Newspaper Convention in Kagoshima City on October 16.

Thank you to our readers for their support
Yasutaka Hanashiro Executive Editor of the Ryukyu Shimpo:
We sometimes see territorial issues as the responsibility of the central government, which has the exclusive right to exercise sovereignty. Considering the relevant historical background, we would like to approach the problems with a regional perspective and with the views of ordinary citizens. The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association was impressed by our efforts to introduce the voices of people who live on opposite shores, and by the close cooperation achieved between regional newspapers. We thank the association for its recognition, and feel honored stimulated to continue our efforts. We would also like to thank our readers for their support and understanding.

We will further deepen cooperation in future
Toshinori Makino Executive Editor of the Sanin Chuo Shimpo:
Focusing on the common issues facing us all who live in the regions, we planned this series of articles to access public opinion with a regional perspective and the through eyes of residents. To send even stronger messages from locals than we have previously conveyed, we assumed a more aggressive approach in the joint project by our regional newspapers. This reminded us of the importance of newspaper coverage in the communities. We want to deepen cooperation between regional newspapers in the future.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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