The nation's two major media groups came out Tuesday against a government plan that allows police to decide whether to disclose the names of crime victims, saying anonymity would make news-gathering difficult and could help the police cover up matters unfavorable to them.

The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan made the appeal in a joint statement.

The Asahi, Mainichi and Yomiuri newspapers, NHK, and Kyodo News are members of the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association.

Tokyo-based TV stations NTV, TBS, Fuji, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo are members of the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan.

The two groups issued the statement in response to the Cabinet's endorsement Tuesday of a 258-point plan to support crime victims, which includes a passage stating that the police should decide whether victims' names should be disclosed.

The government made the decision despite media opposition.

The media groups' statement says the names of crime victims must be made public to help news organizations conduct "correct and objective news gathering, verification and reporting" to meet the public's right to know.

It should be the media that decide whether to report crime victims' names in each case while giving due consideration to the victims, the statement says.

The two groups also said they would keep a strict watch on police activities in an effort to prevent them from arbitrarily using the passage in question.

Ken Fujiwara, chairman of an editorial panel at the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association, said his organization will continue talks with the police and crime victims to seek their understanding of the media's position.