Tuesday, September 19, 2006

PRO-INDEPENDENCE GROUP ASKS MEDIA FOR FAIR NEWS REPORTING

Taipei, Sept. 18 (CNA) The pro-independence Taiwan Society demanded Monday that cable television network CTiTV provide fairer and more objective news report and set a "10-day deadline" for improvement.

"If CTiTV fails to present fair and objective news reporting within an observation period of 10 days, the Taiwan Society will refuse any invitation to be interviewed thereafter, " said Taiwan Society Secretary-General Chet Yang one day after CtiTV claimed that one of its reporters was attacked at a rally organized by the Taiwan Society.

Three television networks, including CTiTV, claimed their reporters were attacked by crowds in a pro-president Chen Shui-bian rally last Saturday.

A review conducted from Sept. 14- 16, which was released by media watch group Broadcasting Development Fund (BDF) , shows that CTiTV news coverage was greatly slanted in favor of the anti-president protest, said BDF CEO Connie Lin.

In a written statement, Yang apologized to the network for violent acts by rally participants but also condemned "violence of the media, " saying that the media should not make up news, quote anonymous sources and apply double standards in news reporting.