‘Freedom of Expression’ and the Role of Newspaper

In the Publication of a Caricature of Muhammad

Abstract

In this paper, I will analyse the news over the caricature of Muhammad

drawn on the cover of the special edition of Charlie Hebdo in 2015, and consider

whether the Japanese newspapers played a role as leaders of ‘freedom of

expression’.

　　In Japan, three of the seven main newspapers did not publish the caricature

and one of the four that published it was protested by Islamic groups and

published an apology article.

　　When I analysed the articles of the seven newspapers by using a text-mining

approach, I found three problems. Primarily, the contents and attitude of

the newspapers did not necessarily emphasize ‘freedom of expression’. Secondly,

the evaluation process for the caricature and the criteria for publication or nonpublication

of the caricature were not shown. Thirdly, the newspaper that apologized

for publishing the image did not clarify the reason for the apology, and

the other newspapers did not report the news that instigated a discussion over

the rightness or wrongness of the publication. For these reasons, it is hard to

say that Japanese newspapers played the role.

　　In addition, it can be pointed out that the three newspapers which did not

publish the caricature either do not have a certain criterion or did not apply the

criterion. Finally, with respect to the newspaper that published the apology

article，the phenomenon known as atrophy of the news was seen.