Media Influence on Public Opinion and Government The Case of TV Political Discussion Programs in Taiwan

Transcription

1 Media Influence on Public Opinion and Government The Case of TV Political Discussion Programs in Taiwan Shih-che Tang Associate Professor Dept. of Communication National Chung Cheng University Min-Hsiung, Chiayi

2 A tourist s gaze. 台湾的街道上有不少的小游行和抗议横幅, 这一切对于大部分大陆游客来说都太新鲜了, 于是很多游客守着电视机看晚上的政论节目 我妈妈去年从台湾旅游回来, 就说那里太好玩了, 领导人可以在电视里随便骂, 比快乐大本营还要欢乐 韓寒, 太平洋的風

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4 Taiwan ranked 47 in Reporters without Borders Press Freedom Index in 2013

5 Press Freedom Index 2012/2013 call in.mp4 Country Rank Taiwan 47 South Korea 50 Japan 53 Hongkong 58 Singapore 149 China 173

6 Cheers? Jeers? When political parties, media and a small cohort of the media people were bundled together, a real democratic communication becomes out of the question. ( 南方朔 ) To pursue democracy, one should stop watching political talk shows. ( 張大春 ) In recent years, the baoliao culture has gone overboard. Mingzwei might have done a good job revealing political corruption, but they shouldn t fancy that they could rule a nation thereof. (editorial column, China Times)

7 Taiwan s talk-show democracy Freedom of speech or gonzo populism?

8 A Brief Recap of TV Broadcasting History in Taiwan The Martial Law period: Between 1947 and 1987, the KMT-imposed Martial Law regulated all media in terms of license and content censorship. First TV station TTV was founded in CTV and CTS were founded in 1969 and For 3 decades, the old 3 channels were tightly controlled by KMT, serving as its mouthpiece. Political information was provided only in news report, political commentary is few.

9 A Brief Recap of TV Broadcasting History in Taiwan II The Post-Martial Law period: The Martial Law was abolished in It has initiated a series of media de-regulations. DPP ( 民進黨 )was founded in It soon emerged as a major opposing political force against KMT. The 4 th broacasting station FTV (Formosa TV) began broadcast in DPP politicians are major shareholders.

10 After liberalization, Market writ large Cable TV was legalized in The government s laissez-faire policy resulted in mergers and acquistions in the cable TV industry. Currently more than 100 channels, yet the ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few MSOs. The biggest 4 media corporations control 20 toprated channels, taking 58% of market-share. The 7-24 news channels emerged as good business.

11 Taiwan s news-mania in the 1990s Cable TV multiplied the provision of political information. 7 all-time news channels (comparing to 3 in the US, 0 in Japan) A greater autonomy of news production: News, the guerilla style: Live report breaks political taboos. Talking frenzy diversification of genres of talk shows. currently 21 shows in production, over 128 hours of programs weekly.

12 TV political talk shows Historical context of its emergence: Political democratization in the 1990s during the Lee Teng-hui regime. (lifts bans on media, hold presidential election, openly propagate for debate on one-china policy and national identity, peaceful power transition) DPP s media politics strategy: DPP effectively mobilizes grass-root media to engage in turf wars against KMT. ( 地方包圍中央 ) Corporate media s playing of power game: opinionmaking as a trade-off for economic favoritism.

13 2100 All People Talk TVBS s top-rated TV show, began broadcast in Led the other programs in the adoption of phone-in. Commonly held as KMT (the blue camp) sympathizer. ma interview.mp4 Best known for its uncovering of corruption, which led to the deposition movement against President Chen, Shui-bian (DPP) in The host Li, Tao ( 李濤 ): 2100 is a call-in program, a platform of opinion, not news reporting pursuing truth. Li quit the show in 2003 due to low ratings.

14 Big Talk News SET-N s popular TV show, started broadcast in Originally neutral in political view, yet soon aligned with DPP. Power brokering: the host Hong-yi Cheng ( 鄭弘儀 ) was suspected of intervening in DPP s nomination controversy during 2008 Presidential election. Cheng resigned after 10 years hosting the show in SET had concern over the show s anti-china discourse, which was thought to jeopardize its entrance in the Chinese TV market. what's the president.mp4

15 The Mingzwei Phenomenon Mingzwei( 名嘴 ), a.k.a the famous mouth, political pundits who become media personalities. The changing pattern of panelist organization: between 1990s to 2002, politicians, party spokesperson, scholars and lawmakers were major talk show panelists. Since 2003, journalists replaced political agents to become the major participants.

16 Political deliberation, the Mingzwei style The know-all, tell-all Mingzweihawkin.mp4 The 3A discursive style: accuse, assert, arouse hair expose.mp4 double s..mp4 confront.mp4 A microcosm of political reality: Two opposing camps, one split nation.

17 Political impacts Blame game: staged diatribe worsened political confrontation. Political stepping stone: media exposure as the head start of Mingzwei s political career. Accommodation effect: wimpy government? Or being media-savvy?skive.mp4

18 The Program s fall from favor Falling ratings. In replacement, a new kind of de-politicized talk show. eisenhower.mp4

19 A few afterthoughts Politics a la the marketing style: Segmentation of participation/viewership. Moderator or instigator? Negotiating difference or fanning the flame? Political watchdog went astray: promoting political transparency, or creating hyperconscious political government?

20 Questions: 1. How different is it between Taiwan and Hong Kong in terms of television s presentation of public-affair discussion? 2. What role does the public-affair discussion program play in Hong Kong s politics? Are there other dimensions than keeping the public informed about politics? 3. How do you evaluate the phenomenon of Taiwan s television commentators acting as political pundits ( 名嘴現象 )?

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