Political bias in the news coverage of Taiwan's first presidential election: A comparative analysis of broadcast TV and cable TV news |
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| Authors: | Ven‐hwei Lo Pu‐tsung King Ching‐ho Chen Hwei‐lin Huang |
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| Institution: | 1. Professor and chair in the Department of Journalism , National Chengchi University , Taiwan;2. Associate professor in the Department of Journalism , National Chengchi University , Taiwan;3. Lecturer in the Department of Radio and TV , National Chengchi University , Taiwan;4. Graduate student in the Department of Journalism , National Chengchi University , Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | This research examines how TV reported the campaign and the candidates during Taiwan's first‐ever presidential election in 1996. A content analysis of evening news coverage of six TV stations indicated that the state‐owned broadcast TV stations were far more likely than the privately owned cable TV stations to give a greater amount of coverage and soundbites to the ruling party presidential and vice presidential candidates, using the ruling party officials as principal news sources. The TV Stations’ coverage also contained more news favourable to the ruling party candidates than to other candidates. The future may well see a turning point in TV election coverage as well as in general news coverage in Taiwan. The three state‐owned broadcast TV stations face competition from privately owned cable TV stations and may soon be confronted with the loss of public trust and audience, unless they can provide fair and balanced news free from government control. |
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