blog task 1

TVBS scandal points to credibility problems in Taiwan's media industry

Despite living in the digital age, books and papers are still the order of the day.
Businessmen donned in suits browsing through the papers with a cup of coffee in cafes and commuters reading their books in trains in the early morning are common sights.

So why does the world have a fascination with books, magazines and papers?
They provide people with a quick source of information, whether as a form of relaxation or for work purposes.

The question is, how far do we expect the information to be accurate from these sources and does that matter? The gamut of information ranges from the sensational coverage of Madonna's adoption of an African kid to news about the shutting down of North Korea's nuclear facilities. Obviously, the former appeals if one just want some light reading but the latter is taken more seriously if one is reading to keep abreast of the world's developments.

Video footages showing death threats are usually taken quite seriously by television viewers who naturally demand more about the accuracy of the information. So one is hardly surprised to learn that the Taiwanese public was really upset upon learning that it's trust on the media has been abused when the truth about the journalist shielding the truth of the sensational video source surfaced.

In this highly competitive society, everyone tries to outdo each other. The media industry is no exception. The TVBS's production of this arresting video can be understood to be one method to stay competitive by attracting viewers. Though they had success initially as their rating shoots sky high when the footage was aired, their reputation came crushing down when their deception was uncovered. Is this really what the media industry want?

Therefore, the next question is, how do we keep in check that the media remain responsible to what they report? One way to flex the consumer's muscles is to air any displeasure through, ironically other forms of media. For example, if one feels that the radio station has been making partican remarks, he or she can write to the Straits Times forum.

The problem of the credibility of the media has always been present. One should also not doubt the fact that this problem of credibility will continue to persist as there is no solution to resolve this problem. What one can do however, is to read from different sources to obtain the truth of events or to develop a better perspective of the situation.