"NEWSPAPER CAMPUS 2018" Announcement of the establishment of the "Newspaper Science Research Institute"
The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association held the newspaper PR event "NEWSPAPER CAMPUS 2018" at the Futakotamagawa Rise commercial facility in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, for three days from April 6 to 8, coinciding with Spring Newspaper Week.
The event targeted elementary, junior high, and high school students and their parents, promoting how newspapers can aid learning.
The venue displayed the front pages of all member newspapers nationwide and distributed trial copies. Interactive corners included a quiz rally teaching newspaper trivia, scrapbook-making, and a giant puzzle explaining page layout. Teenage athletes held talk shows, and mini-stages for parents were also set up, drawing large crowds of families.
At the opening ceremony on the first day, Kazuyoshi Hayashida, Chairman of the Newspaper PR Committee (The Asahi Shimbun), stated, "We've prepared a variety of content at the venue. We hope visitors will enjoy interacting with newspapers and truly grasp their essence." This was followed by the announcement events for "HAPPY NEWS 2017" and the "Newspaper Science Laboratory."
The association runs the "HAPPY NEWS Campaign," soliciting articles about heartwarming local topics or the achievements of people close to readers, along with comments on them. The winning entries for the 2017 campaign were announced on "Read the Newspaper Day" (April 6).
Guest judge Akari Suda of the idol group SKE48 appeared on stage. Suda shared that checking the morning newspaper is part of her daily routine and introduced her personally selected "Akari Suda Award." The winner was a woman from Shiga Prefecture who submitted her thoughts on an essay by writer Uji Taniguchi (published in the Chunichi Shimbun).
Regarding the essay, which described how the author's mother with dementia believed her current age was the happiest time of her life, Suda commented, "While reading, I saw my own parents reflected in it. It would be wonderful if everyone could keep their happy memories in their hearts forever."
The grand prize went to a woman from Osaka Prefecture who was moved by an article (published in the Asahi Shimbun) detailing a heartwarming exchange of letters between elementary school children and city officials about the felling of an old cherry tree.
Suda concluded, "This time, I encountered many happy news stories. I would be delighted if newspapers could become a familiar source of energy for many people."
For the announcement of the establishment of the "Newspaper Science Institute" ( http://np-labo.com/ ), Suda reappeared as a special researcher, wearing a lab coat and glasses.
Chairman Hayashida explained that the institute was launched as a replacement for the HAPPY NEWS campaign, which concluded with this initiative. Under the slogan "Tomorrow, too, there's a reason to read," it will research the benefits gained from reading newspapers through various original surveys. It has already published findings such as higher concentration levels among children in households with newspaper subscriptions.
Chairman Hayashida expressed his aspirations: "We plan to publish reports on these findings in the newspapers of our member companies, aiming to promote understanding and awareness of newspapers with a touch of humor."
Finally, Mr. Suda said, "I truly believe reading newspapers has been a great thing. I want everyone to know that realizing articles are written by people can make you feel even warmer inside."
Association official website:
http://www.pressnet.or.jp/
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