Media Watch chairman Kuang Chung-hsiang (管中祥) said yesterday there was a risk that media would focus on the trauma of Typhoon Morakot but neglect the underlying issues behind the disaster.
“In their coverage of the disaster caused by Typhoon Morakot, the media seem to be taking advantage of tragedy and turning the victims into [profits]” by using their stories to boost viewer ratings, Kuang told the Taipei Times in a telephone interview. “They ask reporters to risk their lives to go into devastated areas and advertise the reports as ‘exclusive’ to boost their viewership.”
“On Monday, the Apple Daily even put a huge picture of the bodies of victims on its front page, which made many readers, including the families of the victims, uncomfortable,” he said.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Although some news programs and political commentary shows are scrutinizing the government’s response, “they are not looking at the long-term problems that lead to disasters, such as the quality of public infrastructure and water management,” Kuang said.
If the government makes promises to improve the situation, the media needs to follow it up, he said.
Media Reform Taiwan member Cheng Kuo-wei (鄭國威) said media were neglecting key questions.
PHOTO: AFP
“What obstructed the flow of rivers? Who built the embankments along riverbanks? Who permitted constant digging of sandstone [from river beds] and changed the course of rivers? Who used up underground water? Who allocated all the resources to cities, leaving death and injury for the countryside? Why is it that elderly people and children are left to save themselves when disasters strike rural areas?” Cheng said.
Cheng said the media and the public need to pay attention to infrastructure and water management projects. While the media broadcast nonstop footage of tearful villagers, no one is talking about the effects of construction and high-altitude agriculture on the natural mountain vegetation and the role this plays in flooding.
“Knowing why something happens and preventing it from happening” again should be a top priority, he said.
Meanwhile, National Communications Commission (NCC) Chairwoman Bonnie Peng (彭芸) issued a statement on Tuesday recognizing the role of media in rescue efforts.
However, while it is positive that TV news correspondents gather information about the situation, media outlets should try to verify reports before airing them.
Jason Ho (何吉森), director of the NCC’s communications content department, said one TV station had reported that 30 corpses were spotted floating down a river, then said 15 minutes later that the report was wrong.
Peng said TV stations should also inform viewers whether footage they air is a live broadcast of the current situation.
Viewers “need to know if the roads that were blocked are now accessible or if the trapped victims have been rescued,” Ho said.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
RSS