Lee's son-in-law appointed head of TTV

Despite the controversial move, Lai Kuo-chou (賴國洲), former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) son-in-law was appointed yesterday to the chairmanship of Taiwan Television Enterprise Ltd (TTV).

In addition, Hu Yuan-hui (胡元輝), president of the Independence Evening Post (自立晚報), was appointed as the station's new president.

The management reshuffle took place yesterday at a meeting of TTV's shareholders. Lai and Hu both represent TTV's biggest stockholder, the Bank of Taiwan (台灣銀行).

Observers have long seen Lai's appointment as President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) political favor to Lee. Nevertheless, Lai says it was his media expertise that won him the position.

"My experience in media management and my educational background in mass communications are factors that qualify me as a candidate," Lai said. "It has nothing to do with any political figures that I am associated with. After all, TTV is a publicly owned enterprise."

In addition, Lai said that TTV's shareholders from state-run banks had asked him to consider the position, not top officials from the new government.

But the Association of Taiwan Journalists (台灣新聞記者協會) has a different take on the situation.

In a statement released yesterday, the association criticized Lai's appointment and the new government's personnel arrangements, saying media autonomy had been sacrificed to satisfy Chen's political interests.

"As the former opposition party, the DPP argued that the government, political parties and the military should not interfere with the management and personnel structures of the three terrestrial TV stations," the association said.

"Lai's appointment now has nullified the new government's political ideals and promises."

Speaking to the issue of media reforms, Hu, TTV's new president, told reporters yesterday that he was determined to improve the station's professionalism while in office.

"In terms of media reforms, if TTV can achieve the goal of enhancing its professionalism, it can reclaim its golden days in Taiwan's television history," said Hu, who is highly regarded among his peers.

When asked whether TTV would undertake a chairmanship system or presidential system, Lai brushed aside reporters' concerns and said that corporate regulations would be followed. He did, however, add that better communications would be established within the company.

Thirteen other board members were also elected yesterday, including three standing board members. They were Lu Shih-Hsiang (盧世祥), vice president of the Economic Daily News (經濟日報); Huang Chin-yuan (黃清苑), chairman of First Commercial Bank (第一商業銀行); and Ho So-chun (何壽川), president of Yuen Foong Yu Paper Manufacturing Co Ltd (永豐餘造紙公司).

Two KMT representatives -- Secretary-General Lin Feng-chen (林豐正) and former secretary-general to the president, Huang Kun-hui (黃昆輝) -- were also elected to the board.

Members of TTV's board are expected to attend a handover ceremony today.

Lai and Hu plan to use the ceremony as an opportunity to endorse an news autonomy agreement reached earlier with the station's news department.