Japannews.yomiuri, From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2026), Editorial
As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, the volume of information that is circulating — a mix of truths and falsehoods — continues to grow.
Especially in such a time when it is difficult to discern what is true, it is necessary to reaffirm the role of newspapers that accurately convey the facts.
Newspaper Week began on Oct. 15. According to a survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun, 62% of respondents, the highest percentage, stated they expect newspapers to “report information accurately.”
Generative AI, which is advancing at a remarkable pace, can easily create text, images and videos. The internet is flooded with disinformation and misinformation, and the development of AI is making it increasingly difficult to discern what is true.
During the Okinawa gubernatorial election in September, AI-generated fake images of candidates and other content spread on social media. During the House of Representatives election in February, content such as fake videos circulated online, including one that showed some opposition party leaders beginning to dance during a broadcast in which candidates express their views. Such disinformation could affect election results.
After the Kumamoto Earthquake in July, some people created posts pretending to be bereaved family members in order to elicit sympathy and increase their view counts. Disinformation in the wake of disasters tramples on the feelings of those affected. If it leads to situations that hinder evacuation efforts, it can impact the lives of those who are actually affected.
In contrast, the information reported by newspapers is the result of reporters visiting the scenes and meeting with people to steadily gather facts.
During election campaigns, reporters try and find the latest information through such means as gathering facts from various sources, including the campaign teams of candidates, and conducting surveys. Newspapers also carefully consider how to fairly report such information.
After the Kumamoto Earthquake, in addition to its local reporters, The Yomiuri Shimbun dispatched a total of 130 reporters from Tokyo, Osaka and other locations over the course of a month to carefully listen to the voices of those affected.
The Yomiuri Shimbun has also continued to engage in gathering information in Ukraine. Russia’s aggression against the country is now in its fifth year. The Yomiuri Shimbun has vividly conveyed the horrors of the war, such as by revealing the reality of the Russian military’s drone attacks targeting civilians — dubbed “human safari” — such as through the testimonies of victims and others.
This kind of reporting can never be replaced by AI or social media.
Recently, newspapers are sometimes referred to, often with a touch of sarcasm, as “old media.” But “old” likely does not only mean antiquated. The term should be perceived as an expression based on newspapers’ long history of consistently delivering information gathered by reporters who put in a lot of time and effort.
Filter bubbles, which occur when users only see information that aligns with their personal preferences and views, have been pointed out as a problem on social media. There is also strong concern about echo chambers, which can lead to a person becoming biased because they only connect with others who hold similar views.
Especially in such times, it is necessary to firmly keep in mind the vital role of newspapers in providing access to unexpected information and offering opportunities for thinking.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2026)
