Abstract
In the 2025 Japan’s House of Councillors election, TV broadcasters reassessed their traditional election coverage, undertaking efforts to improve pre-election reporting and strengthen fact-checking. A survey conducted during the previous year's Hyogo Prefecture gubernatorial election revealed that more voters relied on social media and video sites than on television when casting their votes, prompting criticism that television may not be delivering information that aids voters’ decision-making. Furthermore, calls emerged for a shift from fairness in quantity to fairness in quality. These reviews were initiated against this backdrop.
This paper presents findings from a quantitative content analysis of eleven evening and night-time programs broadcast by NHK and commercial broadcasters, examining how the amount and content of election coverage changed compared to the previous House of Councillors election. The analysis showed that the volume of election coverage increased significantly during the campaign period, particularly in commercial broadcasters’ evening programs. Additionally, reporting styles diversified, with multiple programs analysing candidates’ opening campaign speeches. Amidst the spread of numerous false and misleading information, especially on social media, fact-checking efforts—absent in the previous election—expanded across broadcasters. Regarding fairness in quality, the study focused on coverage of the Sanseito party, which became one of the focal points of the campaign, and examined it in greater detail.
Questions remain regarding how voters perceived these revisions and what constitutes information that truly aids their decision-making.
