On Monday, 11 November 2024, Yosuke Buchmeier successfully defended his doctoral thesis titling “Public Service Media under Pressure: NHK’s Role in Japanese Democracy”.
The thesis analyzes public service media’s role within the complex dynamics of contemporary democracy, explores why its legitimacy has suffered, and discusses what needs to be done to restore it. Thereby, it explores NHK’s historical context, news program, journalistic practices, and the political influences that shape its news coverage, providing a nuanced perspective on the critical function of public service media in sustaining democratic societies.
The thesis was assessed “Summa Cum Laude” (with the highest praise). We congratulate Yosuke Buchmeier on this achievement.