Editorials and Headlines dealing with poll results

The Case of the Consumption Tax

Abstract

This report presents the results of an analysis of the relationship between the arguments developed by Japanese newspapers in their editorials on the consumption tax and the selection of headlines in their coverage of poll results. The analysis shows that Asahi and Mainichi tended to emphasize their opposition to the consumption tax in their headlines. On the other hand, Yomiuri emphasized opinions in favor of the consumption tax in its headlines. Examining the relationship based on the poll results, Asahi and Mainichi carried the majority of the poll results in their headlines. On the other hand, Yomiuri gave priority in its headlines to opinions supporting the consumption tax, though not all of them. This is despite the fact that the poll results were evenly split between those in favor and those opposed.