Media students advocate for enactment of the Media Bill into law
Media Bargaining Bill in Taiwan: Urgency Amid Political Gridlock
The media landscape in Taiwan is facing a critical juncture, with the passage of the media bargaining bill and the establishment of a journalism development fund at the forefront of discussions. The goal is to finalize the text of the bill by the end of this year.
The current legislative session, which has been extended twice, is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 31. However, cross-party negotiations are needed to reach a consensus over the bill's wording. If the Ministry of Digital Affairs fails to submit a version of the bill soon, the legislature's Transportation Committee will proceed with the draft bills already submitted and seek majority consensus.
The urgency behind passing the media bargaining bill stems from concerns over media fairness, the sustainability of journalism, and political influence over media narratives. The students' call for the bill was echoed by a petition that gathered over 1,500 signatures in 10 days, launched by members of Taiwan's journalism and academic communities.
According to the students, the dominance of social media and their algorithms is causing media firms to sacrifice depth and quality of reporting in exchange for traffic and advertising revenue. This, they say, sideline media firms and makes them vulnerable to interventions by the government and large corporations. The ability of media to serve as an independent fourth estate is at risk, warns Cheng Hsin, a student at National Chengchi University.
The proposed journalism development fund is intended to support investigative reporting and ensure the sustainability of media firms of all sizes. The fund could be financed through taxes on digital advertising revenue from global platforms or through donations from businesses, government agencies, and private entities. Kuo Ssu-hsien of Fu Jen Catholic University suggests that this fund is necessary to counter the pressures faced by media firms in the digital age.
The media bargaining bill and the journalism development fund proposals remain caught in Taiwan’s deeply divided political arena as of mid-2025, with passage urgent to safeguard independent journalism but impeded by partisan conflicts in the legislature and executive branch. Delayed passage risks worsening media fragmentation and public distrust, undermining democratic norms.
[1] Taiwan's Political Landscape: A Divided Government
[4] Media Bargaining Bill and Journalism Development Fund in Taiwan
[1] In the midst of political gridlock and a divided legislature, the importance of education-and-self-development regarding the Media Bargaining Bill and the Journalism Development Fund proposals in Taiwan cannot be overstated.
[4] The urgency for these legislations is highlighted by the need for general-news coverage that is independent, free from political influence, and sustainable in the digital era, but implementation is impeded by the current state of Taiwan's politics.
