Lawmakers Focus on Media Bias During Elections, Scholar Urges NCC Oversight

The joint meeting of the Transportation and the Education and Culture Committees of the Legislative Yuan continued deliberations today on the list of nominees for the National Communications Commission (NCC) submitted by the Executive Yuan. One of the most closely watched issues during this round of nominations was political propaganda by the media during election periods. Several legislators expressed concern at the meeting, worrying that certain television stations, radio channels, and online media outlets excessively favor specific candidates in their programming schedules, and even intentionally conflate political issues with entertainment programming, thereby undermining the neutrality and objectivity that the media ought to uphold.

During the meeting, NCC commissioner nominee Chang Chun-yen expressed his views on the issue. He pointed out that "the current situation of political propaganda is quite severe, with various political parties employing their own methods of praise. If this situation is not improved, it will seriously impact voters' judgment of information and the fairness of elections." Chang further explained that as a regulatory body, the NCC should strengthen regulations at the level of structural control to ensure that media program content does not favor any party during election periods, while simultaneously maintaining freedom of speech and media diversity.

This discussion relates not only to electoral fairness, but also touches upon the fundamental development of Taiwan's democracy. In past elections, media political propaganda has been criticized as the "advertorialization of elections," leading voters to rely excessively on media narratives in their evaluations of candidates. Without adjustment, this could further exacerbate political polarization and reduce voters' rational discussion of political issues. Chang appealed to all sectors to actively petition and submit concrete supervisory recommendations after the official establishment of the NCC, and to urge the commission to formulate clearer program review standards.

Furthermore, the role of the NCC also lies in balancing market competition with the public interest. Taiwan's television market has transitioned from traditional television to diversified digital platforms, and media companies often adopt high-risk, provocative program content in order to attract viewers. Without moderate regulation of political propaganda, media outlets may become overly reliant on political interests during election periods, thereby disrupting market fairness. In this context, the NCC must utilize structural controls and content reviews to ensure that the media serves not merely as a transmitter of information, but also as a tool for democratic oversight.

In conclusion, the Legislative Yuan's deliberations and Chang Chun-yen's appeal highlight Taiwan's urgent need for the regulation of election-related media. If the NCC is able to propose concrete and enforceable regulations on structural control and program content review in the future, it will help enhance electoral transparency, protect the rights and interests of voters, and safeguard the long-term stability of Taiwan's democratic system.

(Fact source: Central News Agency)