That's a separate issue. The article I read was referring specifically to how rules and public signage is handled, e.g., street signs.

And OP is right - street signs in Japan are often vague, non-existant, or, sometimes, simply misleading. Street signs in Japan are extremely "high context," and almost entirely useless to an immigrant that's fresh off the boat. My first few months in Tokyo were hell because, even though I'd spent years getting used to Kochi City's signage, Tokyo's was completely different.

Print media's strength in Japan is probably more closely related to the media cartels and their control over the market. For example, CD's in Japan cost 2 to 3 times what they cost elsewhere, but Japanese people are still buying more CD's than any other developed nation because the market is protected in various ways.

I'm sure there's also a lot going on there with the very low quality of TV meaning that people are more willing to turn to newsprint - whereas in my country, local and national news programs are much higher quality than in Japan, so newspapers are dying here.

I don't think the "high context" issue really applies to things like news and entertainment.