As Japan marks the 100th anniversary of broadcasting in the country this year, the raison d'etre of this means of communication and what roles it can play in this age of the internet is being put to the test.

Japan's radio broadcasts began on March 22, 1925, under a provisional license. The move followed the Great Kanto Earthquake two years earlier, when false rumors led to confusion due to a lack of accurate information, raising the need for a universal means of communication.

Radio broadcasts have since chronicled key moments in history. When a group of Japanese Army officers attempted a coup on Feb. 26, 1936, a radio broadcast called for their surrender. That summer, the public was enthralled as a race involving Japanese swimmer Hideko Maehata was covered live on radio during the Berlin Olympics, with the announcer shouting, "Go on, Maehata!"

Even Japan's participation and surrender in World War II were communicated to the public via radio. On the other hand, radio broadcasts were also used for war propaganda due to their huge influence.

Out of regret of such a course in history, the Broadcast Act was enforced in 1950 in postwar Japan, calling for ensuring the freedom of expression and serving as a healthy democracy.

When TV broadcasts commenced in Japan in 1953, people gathered around street televisions to watch programs. After TV sets became widely available in households, the living room became central for family gatherings. TV shows set social trends and linked people by providing common topics for conversation.

Decades on, the innovation of communications technology drastically changed the media landscape.

People are now glued to video streaming services, and the young set in particular is rapidly turning away from TV. Social media have become a common tool for communication, allowing individuals to send out information on their own.

On the contrary, adverse effects have become evident, with false rumors and unsubstantial information flooding cyberspace. Behind the phenomenon lies the spread of the attention economy, where people prioritize how to draw others' attention over the quality of the information communicated.

As the fusion of broadcasting and telecommunications has progressed, TV programs are now available online as well. Public broadcaster NHK is also set to make a full-scale foray into the market this autumn.

Amid these circumstances, NHK is urged to ensure its credibility as a public media platform. In the event of disasters, reliable information aired on radio and TV becomes a lifeline for affected people.

In recent years, the broadcasting community has been rocked by a spate of scandals arousing a sense of mistrust among viewers. In regard to the sexual abuse scandal involving the now-defunct agency Johnny & Associates Inc., Japanese broadcasters' disdain for the human rights of victims was brought to the surface.

Broadcasters are urged to return to the starting point of providing accurate information and producing quality programs, and present a new vision for the media platform.