The Asahi Shimbun Company’s Valuable 500 Commitment:
The Asahi Shimbun Co. will make every effort to bring about a society in which everyone can live comfortably and which mutually recognizes and supports the personalities of everyone regardless of whether they have a disability or not and respects the individuality and diversity of all people. We will further improve on our reporting and sponsored events in order to realize an inclusive society.
A media company that spreads inclusiveness
We will contribute to spreading a barrier-free mind-set by continuing and improving our reporting and sponsored events with the aim of creating a society in which various people can live and move forward together without prejudice.
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We will aim for reporting and events that can allow people to imagine themselves in the situation of others by emphasizing diversity and deepening our readers’ understanding of not only disabilities but various physical and psychological characteristics. We established The Asahi Shimbun Social Welfare Organization in 1928 with the aim of bringing about “a society in which everyone supports one another and where everyone can live with peace of mind.” The organization has sponsored various events, such as a national speech contest for senior high school students using sign language as well as gatherings for children who have parents with mental disorders. Because the catalyst for establishing the organization was the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, it has also been aggressively involved in providing support to those with disabilities during natural disasters. We will continue to transmit information that can be of help in mutually acknowledging the personality and individuality of others by bringing together various people.
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We will plan and sponsor events and business operations that those with and without disabilities can participate in without prejudice and enjoy together.
A media company easily accessible in an inclusive society
We will accelerate our efforts to allow everyone to utilize the information we provide by incorporating thinking about universal design and ensuring that anyone with a disability is able to receive information.
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We will widen the range of information communication by transmitting information through a multitude of channels not limited to the printed word and through the use of graphics designed with a stress on being easily understood so that anyone can access our information. One example is the “CHALLENGED wonder athletes” series posted to The Asahi Shimbun Digital website (http://www.asahi.com/special/challenged/) which demonstrates our efforts to create contents with special care given to internet accessibility so readers regardless of disability or age or the environment they find themselves in can access and understand the information through a variety of media such as photos, videos and computer graphics.
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In order to improve the ease of use for our readers, we will incorporate the views sent in to us for improving the information that we transmit. We will also ensure easier access to our information by utilizing the latest technology to develop the audio news service “Asahi Shimbun Arukiki” as well as “Asahi Shimbun Podcasts.”
A media company that allows for inclusive work conditions
We have employees with various disabilities making valuable contributions in different sections of our company. We will strive to make the company an easier place to work for all employees by creating a work environment that will be even easier to work in for those with disabilities.
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We have begun in-house training sessions that serve to reconfirm the importance of communicating with others in order to deepen understanding about disabilities. Through such experiences, we will continue and improve our efforts to allow all of our employees to fully exercise their abilities and personalities.
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We will further work toward installing support equipment as well as make the company barrier-free to create an office environment in which everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability or not and regardless of the type of disability, will be able to comfortably perform their work duties.
