報道機関

• Reading: ほうどうきかん
• Romaji: houdou kikan
• Kanji breakdown: 報 (hou) — report, inform; 道 (dou) — way, path; 機 (ki) — machine, mechanism; 関 (kan) — barrier, connection
• Pronunciation: /hoː.doː.ki.kaɴ/

Meaning

News media; press; information media. Organizations that gather and distribute news.

A noun referring collectively to news organizations — newspapers, television stations, radio, wire services, and online news outlets. Composed of 報道 (news reporting) and 機関 (organization/institution). A formal term frequently used in official statements, press releases, and discussions about media and journalism. More formal than simply メディア.

Examples

1. 報道機関が一斉にそのニュースを伝えた。 News outlets all reported the story at once.
2. 政府は報道機関に対して記者会見を開いた。 The government held a press conference for the news media.
3. 複数の報道機関が独自の調査を行っている。 Multiple news organizations are conducting their own investigations.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, official statements

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 報 (hou, report/inform) + 道 (dou, way/path) + 機 (ki, machine/mechanism) + 関 (kan, barrier/connection). Literally 'reporting mechanism' — the institutional machinery of news delivery.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal