The Saitama District Court has ruled in favor of TV Asahi in a damage suit filed against the network over its report that high levels of dioxin, a toxic substance, had been found in vegetables in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Farmers in the area claimed that the report spread rumors that vegetables there were unsafe, sending their prices into a tailspin.
Tuesday's ruling is reasonable. In effect, it says: The report was aired for the purpose of promoting the public interest, because the discovery of high concentrations of dioxin was a matter of public concern; therefore, there is nothing illegal about the broadcast, which was basically accurate. The decision is based largely on the standards set by the Supreme Court for the handling of libel suits.
The ruling, however, does not represent a complete victory for TV Asahi. It partly supports the farmers' complaint, saying the broadcast "damaged the social reputation of the plaintiffs." The defendant -- and the media generally -- should use this case as an opportunity to examine humbly the ways in which they report pollution incidents. The media must exercise utmost caution lest inaccurate reports cause damage to the people involved. This is true for all the media, not just TV networks. Every possible precaution must be taken to avoid unnecessary friction with citizens.