Midori Suzuki
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
media educator, feminist
and media researcher. She was professor of Media Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Ritsumeikan University
in Kyoto
from 1994 until her death.
Suzuki was known for her work on media literacy
, especially several seminal textbooks and the over one hundred workshops, symposia and media watch projects that she facilitated. She also introduced overseas research to Japan, for example through translations of work by Jerry Mander
, Catharine MacKinnon
, David Buckingham) and the Ontario Teacher's Association.
In addition, Suzuki maintained an exceptionally high level of international networking. She was an active member of the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC), a co-founder and core member of the Asian Network of Women in Communication (ANWIC), a long-term member of the International Association of Media and Communications Research (IAMCR), and on the International Exchange Committee of the Japan Society for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication （日本マス・コミュニケーション学会). She also participated in UNESCO
-sponsored research and projects, and was involved in the Global Media Monitoring Project (1994, 2000 and 2005), for which she served as a steering committee member and a Japanese liaison.
Although Suzuki had received her masters degree in mass communications from Stanford University
in 1966, http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/cg/ss/sansharonshu/424pdf/01-03.pdf she soon became critical of the mass communications research approach, especially its inherent view of people as 'passive receivers' or consumers of information. She instead began to develop a citizen-centered approach. Through her work with the Forum for Citizen's Television and Media (FCT), which she co-founded in 1977, she focused on informed criticism of commercial television programming, especially for children, as well as of gender stereotype
s and other misconceptions and biases found in the mainstream Japanese media. Suzuki noted that "critical is creative" and saw media literacy
as part of a bigger vision for media democratization. An early advocate for communication rights in Japan, she championed an active role for citizens in media society, including in policy making.
Suzuki, Midori (1992) Terebi - dare no tame no media ka? (Television: Whose Medium?) Tokyo: Gakugeishorin.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (1997) Media Literashi wo Manabu Hito no Tame ni (For People Learning Media Literacy) Kyoto: Sekai Shisou-sha.
Suzuki, Midori (1999) Johokashakai ni torikumu kuristoshatachi-WACC no katsudou to sono jissenrinri o chuushin ni (Christians taking on the information society- WACC and its applied ethics). In T. Kuribayashi (Ed.) Sekai ni ikiru (Living in the World), pp.265-285. Tokyo: Nihonkristokyodan Shuppankyoku.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (2003) Study Guide Media Literacy [Jendaa hen] (Gender Approach). 2nd edition. Tokyo: Liberta
Suzuki, Midori (2004) Johokashakai: Digital Divide o chushin ni (Information Society: Focus on the Digital Divide). In S. Inoue, J. Sasaki, H. Tajima & H. Yamamoto (Eds.) Yokuboshakai, pp. 55-72. Tokyo: Nihonbyorishakaigakkai.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (2004) Study Guide Media Literacy [Nyumonhen] (Introductory Approach). 2nd edition. Tokyo: Liberta
Suzuki, Midori (2004) Media Shakai no Ronri (Ethics of the Media Society). In Koichi Kasamatsu and Kazuyuki Wada (Eds.) 21 Seiki no Ronri (The Ethics in the 21st Century), pp.145-197. Tokyo:Hachiyo Shuppan.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
media educator, feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and media researcher. She was professor of Media Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University has a growing reputation as one of the main private universities of Japan. It is part of a group of prestigious private universities in the Kansai area, called "Kan -Kan -Dou -Ritsu "...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
from 1994 until her death.
Suzuki was known for her work on media literacy
Media literacy
Media literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms.-Education:...
, especially several seminal textbooks and the over one hundred workshops, symposia and media watch projects that she facilitated. She also introduced overseas research to Japan, for example through translations of work by Jerry Mander
Jerry Mander
Jerold Irwin "Jerry" Mander is an American activist and author, best known for his 1977 book, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television...
, Catharine MacKinnon
Catharine MacKinnon
Catharine Alice MacKinnon is an American feminist, scholar, lawyer, teacher and activist.- Biography :MacKinnon was born in Minnesota. Her mother is Elizabeth Valentine Davis; her father, George E. MacKinnon was a lawyer, congressman , and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit...
, David Buckingham) and the Ontario Teacher's Association.
In addition, Suzuki maintained an exceptionally high level of international networking. She was an active member of the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC), a co-founder and core member of the Asian Network of Women in Communication (ANWIC), a long-term member of the International Association of Media and Communications Research (IAMCR), and on the International Exchange Committee of the Japan Society for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication （日本マス・コミュニケーション学会). She also participated in UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
-sponsored research and projects, and was involved in the Global Media Monitoring Project (1994, 2000 and 2005), for which she served as a steering committee member and a Japanese liaison.
Although Suzuki had received her masters degree in mass communications from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1966, http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/cg/ss/sansharonshu/424pdf/01-03.pdf she soon became critical of the mass communications research approach, especially its inherent view of people as 'passive receivers' or consumers of information. She instead began to develop a citizen-centered approach. Through her work with the Forum for Citizen's Television and Media (FCT), which she co-founded in 1977, she focused on informed criticism of commercial television programming, especially for children, as well as of gender stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s and other misconceptions and biases found in the mainstream Japanese media. Suzuki noted that "critical is creative" and saw media literacy
Media literacy
Media literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms.-Education:...
as part of a bigger vision for media democratization. An early advocate for communication rights in Japan, she championed an active role for citizens in media society, including in policy making.
Published works
(in Japanese)Suzuki, Midori (1992) Terebi - dare no tame no media ka? (Television: Whose Medium?) Tokyo: Gakugeishorin.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (1997) Media Literashi wo Manabu Hito no Tame ni (For People Learning Media Literacy) Kyoto: Sekai Shisou-sha.
Suzuki, Midori (1999) Johokashakai ni torikumu kuristoshatachi-WACC no katsudou to sono jissenrinri o chuushin ni (Christians taking on the information society- WACC and its applied ethics). In T. Kuribayashi (Ed.) Sekai ni ikiru (Living in the World), pp.265-285. Tokyo: Nihonkristokyodan Shuppankyoku.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (2003) Study Guide Media Literacy [Jendaa hen] (Gender Approach). 2nd edition. Tokyo: Liberta
Suzuki, Midori (2004) Johokashakai: Digital Divide o chushin ni (Information Society: Focus on the Digital Divide). In S. Inoue, J. Sasaki, H. Tajima & H. Yamamoto (Eds.) Yokuboshakai, pp. 55-72. Tokyo: Nihonbyorishakaigakkai.
Suzuki, Midori (Ed.) (2004) Study Guide Media Literacy [Nyumonhen] (Introductory Approach). 2nd edition. Tokyo: Liberta
Suzuki, Midori (2004) Media Shakai no Ronri (Ethics of the Media Society). In Koichi Kasamatsu and Kazuyuki Wada (Eds.) 21 Seiki no Ronri (The Ethics in the 21st Century), pp.145-197. Tokyo:Hachiyo Shuppan.