Does Press Freedom Come with Responsibility? Media for and against Populism in Taiwan

Lihyun Lin ； Chun-yi Lee

《Taiwan Journal of Democracy》 17卷1期 (2021/07) Pp. 119-140

摘要

On November 18, 2020, the National Communications Commission (NCC) revoked the application of cable news station Chung Tien TV (CTiTV) to renew its broadcasting license. This decision triggered supporters of this television channel, mostly pan-Blue voters, to protest and rally. One man self-immolated to express his support for CTiTV. This act aimed to copy a prodemocracy figure, Cheng Nan-jung, an editor of China News Analysis Freedom Era Weekly, who, on April 7, 1989, burned himself to death to defend press freedom. After losing its license, CTiTV subsequently accused the Taiwanese government of infringing press freedom through the NCC's decision-making body. Taiwan's people have fought for democracy since the 1980s; indeed, press freedom has been one of the cornerstones for which they have been fighting. Between 1996 and 2020, Taiwan experienced three shifts in governmental power. The question arises: Has the Taiwanese government censored cable television channels, forgetting how press freedom was earned over this long and hard process? This essay aims to clarify the situation first by reviewing the theoretical discussion of press regulation and public interest. By addressing the public interest, the study enters the debate about elitism and populism. Following this conceptual discussion, the study focuses on the case of CTiTV, particularly regarding this TV channel's promotion of a populist figure, Han Kuo-yu, during his runs in both the mayoral election in Kaohsiung in 2018 and the presidential election in 2020. The concluding analysis revisits the essay's core question: Does press freedom come with an obligation regarding fulfillment of responsibility? The discussion aims to generate more reflection by scholars and students in media studies, politics, and governance.

關鍵字

CTiTV ； Han Kuo-yu ； National Communications Commission (NCC) ； populism ； press freedom

參考文獻

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