Mirror TV Inc., the first new news channel in Taiwan for a decade, named its fourth chairman in a month on Tuesday, amid an ongoing controversy over whether its management has been interfering with the operation of the newsroom.
Former Chunghwa Telecom Chairman Cheng Yu (??) was elected as Mirror TV's new chairman Tuesday, following a reshuffle of its board of directors on March 15.
The TV station received approval from the National Communications Commission (NCC) in January to operate a news channel after several unsuccessful bids since 2019.
NCC members had expressed concerns that Mirror Media Co., Ltd., which owns Mirror TV and Mirror Media, a Chinese-language weekly magazine, would use the channel to broadcast tabloid-like content similar to that of the latter.
However, with those concerns addressed and Mirror TV expected to formally launch on May 8, a meeting of the channel's board on March 4 removed Chairman Chen Chien-ping (???) following allegations that he interfered in the operations of the news department, though Chen issued a statement indicating he had uncovered irregular dealings at the company.
Paper Windmill Theatre founder Lee Yung-feng (???) was then elected the new board chairman, but resigned on March 15, saying that opposition to his appointment prevented him from doing his work.
Film director Yang Ya-che (???) was elected on the same day as the TV station's new chairman, only to be replaced Tuesday.
According to Mirror TV, the country's first media outlet to introduce a news ombudsman system to ensure better news quality, it is still investigating complaints about editorial independence.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel