Attorney Takayuki Nagano talks about crime reporting and the influence of SNS

Lawyer and occasional reporter. There is a lawyer who writes a column with this title in a local newspaper. Takayuki Nagano (58) from Saitama City. A former Yomiuri Shimbun reporter, since leaving the company he has been following the news from the judicial scene. We asked him about the future of newspaper reporting.

--June 27th, the day of the Matsumoto sarin attack, has arrived. How do you feel about the incident that led you to quit your job as a reporter?

``After that incident, crime reporting in newspapers became more restrained, treated less, and anonymous reporting increased, while with the advent of social media, irresponsible information began to be spread.When an incident that shocks society occurs, the media becomes agitated and society heats up. Deep and long-lasting scars remain only on those involved.The structure has not changed.From the perspective of information, mutual surveillance has progressed, different entities are viewed as enemies, one-sided statements are spread, individuals attack strangers on a daily basis, and I feel that society has deteriorated over the past 30 years.

--What do you think of the recent incident reports?

“On SNS and YouTube...