Survey on the Citation of FCCJ Press Conferences in Major Domestic Terrestrial TV News

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ; President: Daniel Sloan; Location: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) and Nihon Monitor Co., Ltd. (Location: Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Miki Nirasawa), a media research and analysis firm, have announced the results of a survey quantifying the media value of press conferences held at the FCCJ in Japanese television broadcasting. Additionally, the association is launching a new "Sponsorship Partnership Plan" to strengthen its sustainable operational foundation.

This survey confirmed that reports related to press conferences held at the FCCJ were broadcast on major Japanese television programs for an annual average of 87 programs, totaling approximately 5.8 hours. This volume of broadcasting is equivalent to approximately 1,400 15-second television commercial slots. When applying the advertising conversion methodology commonly used in the public relations industry as a reference indicator, this is estimated to represent an information exposure scale of approximately 23 billion yen per year.

The FCCJ celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025. Leveraging the media value identified through this survey, the association will promote collaboration with sponsoring partner companies that agree with the FCCJ's mission to strengthen its sustainable operational foundation.

■ Broadcasting Volume Over the Past 5 Years
Footage and topics related to press conferences held at the FCCJ were featured in an annual average of 87 Japanese television programs, with related reports totaling 5.8 hours annually. Converted to 15-second corporate TV commercial slots, this is equivalent to approximately 1,400 slots per year, and on an advertising conversion basis, it is estimated to represent an information exposure volume of approximately 23 billion yen.

[Number of Programs Cited and Total Broadcast Time by Fiscal Year]
- April 2021 – March 2022: 81 programs / 4.69 hours
- April 2022 – March 2023: 97 programs / 7.84 hours
- April 2023 – March 2024: 133 programs / 8.83 hours
- April 2024 – March 2025: 70 programs / 3.62 hours
- April 2025 – March 2026: 55 programs / 4.11 hours

The increase in broadcast time between 2022 and 2024 was driven by the continuous coverage of press conferences on social themes that garnered significant interest both in Japan and abroad. The FCCJ has supported discussions and information dissemination by domestic and international journalists as a venue for expressing diverse viewpoints and conducting Q&A sessions.

Furthermore, the FCCJ functions not only as a hub for political and social issues but also for sports and culture. The press conference for Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won Japan's first gold medal in the figure skating pairs event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026, was cited in 11 programs within two days of the event, with widespread reporting on the athletes' voices and behind-the-scenes stories. The footage of this press conference was also streamed uncut on the official FCCJ YouTube channel and has been viewed over 18,000 times.

The FCCJ has provided a venue for domestic and international journalists, experts, policymakers, and figures in the cultural and sports fields to disseminate information and conduct Q&A sessions from diverse perspectives. These activities serve as one of the foundations supporting the diversity and transparency of information dissemination regarding Japan. However, with the drastic changes in the media environment, there is a need to build a new foundation to maintain the organization. Therefore, the FCCJ is launching a "Capital Campaign" to solicit donations and sponsorships for long-term financial stability and the strengthening of its operational foundation.

■ Message from FCCJ President Daniel Sloan
"For many years, the FCCJ has served as a venue for dialogue and information dissemination by domestic and international journalists. On the other hand, due to recent changes in the media environment, strengthening our sustainable operational foundation has become an important issue. While continuing to value independence and public interest, we will proceed with collaboration with companies and organizations that agree with our association's purpose to maintain a venue for reporting and discussion from diverse perspectives. We are widely soliciting donors and sponsors who agree with the philosophy of freedom of speech and diversity, on the premise that they will respect our editorial and operational independence."

■ Significance of Sponsorship (Embodiment of ESG and Purpose-Driven Management)
Sponsorship of the FCCJ is an initiative to support information dissemination and international exchange activities by domestic and international journalists. For companies, participating in activities with high social credibility and public interest is a meaningful initiative from the perspective of ESG/sustainability policies and improving corporate brand value. Note that sponsorship and donations to the FCCJ do not influence the selection of speakers, the content of press conferences, the content reported by media organizations, or other editorial and operational judgments. The FCCJ will proceed with collaboration with companies and organizations that agree with its mission, on the premise of respecting independence, public interest, and freedom of speech.

■ About Sponsorship Partnership Menus
1. Naming Rights
The FCCJ is considering the introduction of naming rights for press conference rooms and event spaces for companies and organizations that agree with the association's purpose, with the aim of long-term financial stability and strengthening its operational foundation. Naming rights are one of the sponsorship systems for the FCCJ to continuously provide a venue for information dissemination and dialogue by domestic and international journalists, experts, policymakers, and figures in the cultural and sports fields. For sponsoring companies and organizations, this is an initiative that leads to the improvement of corporate brand value and social credibility through participation in activities with high public and international nature, while demonstrating a stance of supporting international reporting and free speech activities.

2. Banner Display / YouTube Sponsorship Display
In addition to naming rights, the FCCJ is also considering partnership menus such as banner displays inside the building and around the press conference venue, sponsorship displays during press conferences and events, and sponsorship banner displays on the official FCCJ YouTube channel. These visualize the support of companies and organizations that agree with the FCCJ's mission and are positioned as financial foundation strengthening measures to continue the FCCJ's public interest activities, international information dissemination, and support for the activities of journalists.

3. Product Placement
The FCCJ is also considering the introduction of product placement, where actual products and services are placed and displayed within the press conference venue, as one of the sponsorship menus during press conferences and events. For example, the installation and display of beverage bottles, laptops, microphone flags, air purifiers, and other products at the speaker's table or within the press conference venue are being considered. Product placement is one of the partnership menus that visualizes the support of companies and organizations that agree with the FCCJ's mission.

[Survey Overview]
Survey Period: April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2026
Target Media: NHK General, Nippon TV, TV Asahi, TBS, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV (Tokyo area terrestrial broadcast)
Survey Method: Based on television program monitoring data held by Nihon Monitor Co., Ltd., footage, remarks, press conference scenes, and mentions of press conference content related to press conferences held at the FCCJ were extracted, and the number of programs and broadcast time were aggregated. The advertising conversion amount is estimated by referring to the concept of TV spot CM conversion according to the target program and broadcast time slot.
* The figure of "approximately 23 billion yen per year" in this survey does not equate the value of news reporting with commercial advertising. It is an estimated value visualized by using the advertising conversion method for TV spot CMs, which is commonly used in the public relations industry, as a reference indicator for the broadcast volume of information and related reports disseminated through the FCCJ.