Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said yesterday that the government may revise a regulation requiring movie theaters to provide free airtime for government advertisements.
The regulation, part of the Films Act (電影法), was enacted in 1983 when the country was still under martial law. It stipulates that movie theaters shall screen films and slides promoting government policies and public services before the start of a movie.
“There have been changes over the years. It's okay for a government to use film to promote its policies, but it should be a fee-based service,” the minister said.
Su mentioned the idea during a press conference about placement marketing, a controversial practice under which government-produced ads are passed off as news.
The Executive Yuan would soon come up with an amendment to the act for the legislature to review, he said.
The government recently came under fire after some of its agencies were accused of giving money to media outlets in exchange for news coverage promoting their policies and performance.
“No matter which form the government uses to promote its policies, either in the print press or the electronic media, the government has to pay for the broadcasting,” Su said.
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