Fuji Television's Top Management Come Under Fire After Troubled News Conference
TOKYO - January 26, 2023 (Alayaran.com)
The crisis surrounding Fuji Television Network Inc.'s president, Koichi Minato, reached a boiling point after the company's top management acknowledged that the news conference held on January 17 was "a failure." In a surprise move, nearly 500 employees attended an internal briefing on January 23 to express their dissatisfaction with Management's handling of the scandal.
President Minato, who had previously vehemently denied involvement in the celebrity scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, now admitted that the news conference fell short of expectations. His admission came after a number of sponsors pulled their advertisements from Fuji Television, and an increasing number of employees calling for his resignation.
In a statement, Chairman Shuji Kano acknowledged that "there were instances where management decisions were not adequate." Kano claimed that they would work to address the issues raised by employees but stopped short of offering any concrete plans.
The briefing, which lasted over four hours, saw over 1,000 workers watch on multiple screens as executives discussed the fallout from the scandal. Employees submitted over 145 questions in advance, many of which went unanswered by Minato during his news conference.
However, the employee audience remained unconvinced. Some participants at the event expressed their deep-seated disappointment and frustration with the management's handling of the crisis. One Fuji Television staff member was visibly shaken by President Minato's 'failure' assessment.
The turmoil has left many employees nervous about their job security. The company's labor union, which had around 80 members at the beginning of last week, saw its membership surge to over 500 by January 23. It seems that employee dissatisfaction is palpable and widespread throughout Fuji Television.
Nakai, 52, retired from the entertainment industry on January 23, after apologizing for all the trouble his actions caused during the scandal.
As the crisis continues to brew, Fuji Media Group has set up a third-party committee to investigate the incident. The move may offer some stability as investors and advertisers consider their options regarding association with Fuji Television.
With mounting pressure from employees and sponsors alike, it appears that only time will tell if President Minato's team can recover from this public relations nightmare.