About the recent request to the government by the Hankyoreh and four other newspapers that there be official support for the "newspaper distribution service," the Chosun Ilbo says "controversy it to be expected." The media workers' union has issued a statement in answer to that, noting that the organization was approved in legislation passed by agreement of the ruling and opposition parties and calling the Chosun's comment "intentional twisting [of the truth about] the newspaper distribution service.
As noted by the media union, the service designed to jointly distribute newspapers is one established by law. Clause 1 of Article 37 of the Newspaper Law takes effect at the end of next month and says a "newspaper distribution service will be maintained to guarantee the people a wide choice" of media. Clause 5 says that the funds needed to operate it "may be supported by the national treasury." It is not becoming of a responsible newspaper to describe as particularly controversial a request for government financial baking made in accordance with the law by newspaper companies that wish to participate in the service that is to be provided. Furthermore the budgetary assistance is not being asked for by media reform groups. Even more a problem is how the Chosun says it will be controversial that the government would be "giving a large amount from the national treasury to improve the distribution structure of private companies." The media serve the people's "right to know." Considering them to be "private companies" is at the center of what is wrong with the Korean media.
The essence of a media company is its role as an institution that serves the public interest and as such is a basic part of democracy. It is not supposed to be a company that furthers the profits of the main owner. The main reason the "clan newspapers" are criticized is for the way they "privatize" their publications. Their behavior is a fine demonstration of the need for social effort to promote diversity in newspapers. Paper newspapers are important also for being a means for developing a habit of critical reading and thinking. There must be effort to make sure the newspaper distribution service is the first step in the normalization of the media, by blocking the high-handedness of the newspapers that throw their capital around and guaranteeing readers a choice in what newspaper they read.
The Hankyoreh, 28 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
