Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian lamented Taiwan media disorder and urged self discipline against irresponsible journalism from "The Fourth Estate" in the founding ceremony of a media watch group Saturday.
"Media is not above the law. And self discipline is better than other discipline, " Chen addressed the crowd in the founding ceremony of a media watch group, which has not been given its English name.
Commenting on his views of how journalism should be and the current status of Taiwan media, Chen cited the cases of former CBS anchor Dan Rather and Taiwanese Major League pitcher Wang Chien-ming and expressed his concerns.
Rather resigned from his post after citing forged documents to question U.S. President George W. Bush's military service. Wang Chien-ming announced two weeks ago that he would not be interviewed by all Taiwan media thereafter, claiming the media seriously invaded his parents' privacy.
With the media nowadays replaces right and wrong with positions, there is more hatred than tolerance, more confrontation than trust in Taiwan society, Chen said.
Many people have called for media regulation, Chen said, but he always believes that "media control is the beginning of the autarchy" and the freedom of speech should be respected first and foremost.
"Maybe I was wrong. And that's why I'm a victim, " he added.
Chen, referring to the incident that former Legislator Lin Cheng-chieh assaulted Chin Heng-wei in a Formosa TV political talk show Wednesday, also described the incident as "a challenge to basic human rights and public power."
The president concluded his speech encouraging the media for reporting "the true, the good and the beautiful."
The media watch group, a coalition of former journalists and political commentators, will focus on media reform with a priority on Taiwanese identity.