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New film blasts `Big Three' conservative dailies
By Ko Dong-hwan
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By Ko Dong-hwan
A new documentary offers scathing commentary on Korea’s three-largest newspapers ― Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo ― which are notable for right-wing viewpoints and dramatic headlines.
Tae Jun-seek’s ``Wise Solution,’’ which opened in theaters on Thursday, argue that the three dailies _ combining to control 70 percent of the country’s newspaper market in circulation _ negatively influence shaping of public opinion by deliberately manipulating facts and writing to serve the power elite.
Analyzing the newspapers’ coverage of corruption in politics and business, elections and other major events, Tae portrays the newspapers as politicized interest groups rather than journalistic outlets.
The film breaks down newspapers’ sensational coverage of the political scandal surrounding Park Yeon-cha, a businessman who peddled influence during the government of late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, and their lack of interest in covering illegal business activities and factory deaths at industry giant Samsung.
Tae also laments how the close relationship between the newspapers and the conservative Park Geun-hye continues to strengthen their dominance. He, however, sees hope in that the wealth of information on the Internet provides citizens a better opportunity to distinguish facts from opinion and be less influenced by politicized newspaper.