The Campaign for Media Reform urged Government Information Office (GIO) to spell out its policy on managing the radio industry.
During a press conference yesterday, academics and professionals belonging to the group said the GIO needs more detailed planning on legalizing underground radio stations as well as the proposed national communication council.
"For instance, in its attempt to legalize underground radio stations, the GIO did not specify how these stations should be managed and run once they are turned into legal entities," said Tseng Kuo-feng (曾國峰), assistant professor in the department of radio and television of National Chengchi University's College of Communication.
Many underground stations sustain themselves by selling commercial products, which the GIO frowns upon, believing that radio stations should be non-profit oriented.
However, some academic said that traditional medicines, which are advertised on many radio stations, are actually part of the grassroots culture.
"While paying visit to underground stations in central and southern Taiwan, I was told by their owners that the majority of their listeners actually prefer to listen to stations that advertise traditional medicines, and these listeners tend to develop particular attachments to radio show hosts who work for such stations," said Vivian Huang (黃葳威), a media professor at National Chengchi University.
Huang said she hoped the GIO would take regional social cultures into consideration while trying to manage the radio industry.
The academics felt that the proposed council should be an independent organization, but it should not be seen as a cure-all for all the problems in the radio industry.
"The council should be an independent organization, where every decision from management appointments, financial resources and administration should be independent [from the government]," said Kuang Chung-hsiang (管中祥), an assistant professor in the department of radio, television and film of Shih Hsin University.
Wei Ti (魏玓), an assistant professor of mass communications at Tamkang University, said that the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has had to face many controversies over its political neutrality.
"No organization can solve all the problems. The FCC has been questioned over its impartial political stance and there have been many controversies," Wei said.
News professionals support media reform.
"Back in the days when [People First Party Chairman] James Soong (宋楚瑜) was director-general of the GIO, the GIO was a merely a government mouthpiece and a political tool. The government has finally come to the realization that the role of GIO should be more focused on the actual administration of broadcasting and that it be run professionally," said Tony Liu (呂東熹), president of the Association of Taiwan Journalists.
Huang voiced concern that once politics is mixed with broadcasting matters, these issues might no longer be handled professionally.
"Taiwan has a special culture that when politics comes into the decision-making process, things are no longer done from a professional point of view, Huang said.
"Personally, I am skeptical of just how neutral the council would be once politicians from all the parties take part in the lawmaking process," Huang said.
"What often results from such political involvement is politicians profiting from the decisions they have agreed upon for their own political interests," he said.
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