GIO defends its media funding

The Executive Yuan yesterday dismissed accusations by opposition lawmakers' that the government has wasted taxpayers' money by funding media outlets in exchange for friendly coverage.

"The accusation is just too twisted and unfair to those units getting funding," said Government Information Office (GIO) Deputy Director-General Hung Chiang-chuan (洪瓊娟), head of the Cable Television Department.

Another Cabinet official, who requested not to be named, said that the criticism was clearly politically motivated.

"All they want is to overthrow the government, nothing else," the official said.

The National Stability Alliance -- a group of KMT and PFP law-makers -- on Tuesday called on the government to make good its promise to free the media from political influence.

The lawmakers also demanded the government announce what private groups are getting funding and how much they get.

According to the alliance, last year the government earmarked over NT$2 billion to fund private media groups and NT$100 billion to hold events or buy air time to promote positive image of the government.

It said that among the private groups that received GIO funding last year were the Association of Taiwan Journalists (NT$150,000), Media Watch (NT$150,000), Formosa Hakka Radio Station (NT$320,000) and the Judicial Reform Foundation (NT$50,000).

The alliance said the Ministry of Education spent NT$220 million on TV commercials promoting its projects while the Central Personnel Administration spent NT$160 million on public activities and TV programs to promote the government's image.

Hung said that the government has a legitimate interest in promoting its actions and in funding certain media groups.

"We have the right to do this because every single dollar we use is clearly listed in the annual budget, which is approved by the Legislative Yuan," she said.

According to Hung, the GIO earmarked about NT$1.8 billion last year to fund state-owned media, including the Public Television Service (NT$900 million), the Central News Agency (NT$350 million) and the Central Broadcasting System (NT$570 million).

She said the Aboriginal Radio Station received NT$360 million, the Hakka Radio Station NT$330 million and the Golden Horse Award got NT$16 million.

Hung said that even though the GIO's annual budget has declined in recent years, it still has to fund efforts to promote a positive image of the government.

The agency's budget was about NT$9.3 billion in 2001. It received NT$3.4 billion last year.

Commenting on the criticism that the draft amendments to the Broadcasting and Television Law (廣電法) are too lax to force government officials and military personnel out of the media, Hung said that the government cannot enact a law that is hard to implement.

"It's impossible to throw a fishnet that will catch all the fish in a pond," she said.