At MBC, some 700 reporters and producers have a been on strike since Jan. 30. It has already been 100 days. It is the longest period since 1992 that recorded 52 days. They say that the free press was lost as company president Kim Jae-chul began taking orders from the Blue House in regards to making the news and other programs. The sentiment is similar at, the nation's largest broadcaster, KBS. The members are calling for President Kim In-kyu's resignation. KBS and YTN strikes have also reached nearly 2 months, itwas already expected that the strike would last while due to the fact broadcasters and producers want to see their bosses quit.
Strike extended
As the number of producers who joined the strike is growing, many MBC programs have been on hiatus. Three of six main MBC news programs were suspended as 90 percent of the reporters lead the boycott. Other programs also go on air at a reduced rate. The strike directly affects the programs MBC produces. This also applies to programs produced by union-affiliated producers; including flagship arts and entertainment programs. MBC has cut the running time of its prime time news show, "News Desk," to less than 15 minutes. The most popular program, airing on weekends, "Mu-Han-Do-Jeon", has been on hiatus for 13 weeks. The program has seen a dramatic drop in viewer's ratings. There are 62 arts and entertainment producers at MBC; some of them ar department-head level. 50 union-affiliated producers are raking part in the current strike. They are showing such solidarity because they believe that arts and entertainment programs have suffered a big loss in autonomy under the leadership of MBC president Kim Jae-chul. Also, management has received harsh criticism by recruiting contract workers to fulfill labor shortages.
It is expected that the strike at KBS will also continue for a long time. The action comes as managementrejected the union'0s demand to recend disciplinary measures taken against 13 union members for their role in a 2010 walkout. This latest action is likely to affect the production of the vast majority of KBS programs , raging from variety shows like "New 1 Night, 2 Days." " Invincible Youth 2," and could potentially affect drama productions if the strikes continue. KBS currently has two main labor unions that can be callsified as Labor Union NO. 1 and Labor Union No. 2. Labor Union No. 1 contains a total of around 3,000 members from a wide range of positions within the KBS group. Meanwhile, labor Union No.2 primarily consists of Producers and Reporters. This is important because Labor Union No.1 will be participating in these strikes from May 3. So, it is very likely that this strike will have a serious impact on the production of various shows within KBS such as "Invincible Youth 2," "Happy Sunday-New 1 Night, 2Days," "Immortal Song 2," etc...
In addition, YTN also goes on strike co protest the appointment of 2008 year president. The dissenters received unfair dismissal and disciplinary action. Now they are opposing consecutive terms of the president. This is the first time that three broadcasting stations face sin-in protests, simultaneously. All three uniouns said that they will never stop the strike until the president retires.
The union of MBC, the nation's second-largest terrestrial broadcaster, has been on strike for more than 100days; calling for their CEO, Kim Jae-chul, to step down. Workers as KBS, the state protests on Tuesday; demanding that their CEO, Kim In-kyu, resign. Unionists at YTN, a 24-hour cable news channel, have agreed to go on strike on Thursday; urging their CEO, Bae Seok-kyu, to abandon his bid tor a second term. They also wigh to reinstate six former colleagues who were sacked for leading a general strike several years ago.
Why do they strike?
There are three requests. First of all, they demand awithdrawal of unjust punitive measures imposed on union executive members. Thirteen former executive members were unfairly penalized for refusing to follow the government's unreasonable and suppressive press policies. At KBS on April 20, Reporter Choi Kyoung-young was fired. This is the same day the strike began. More than ten have alredy lost their jobs at MBC and YTN, too. Secondly, they also aim to restore fairness and justice in national journalism. Lastly, in order to achieve those goals, they feel it is inevitable that the incumbent President must step down. They argue that it is three presidents, above all others. that demoted three broadcasters, to essentially convert the largest public broad casting company into a tool to advertise and promote government propaganda. Without resignation, it would be impossible for them to carry out its duty to speak the public. It is fact that three presidents of the three companies are close associates of the current president Lee Myung-bak. The point is that democracy is in deep crisis.
Kim Jae-chul, former president of Cheongju Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), friends with President Lee Myoung-bak, was elected as the new president of MBC roughly two years ago. He isdiscredited because he is a puppet of the Lee Myung Bak administration and uses a corporate credit card improperly. Actually, he used 700 million won with a corporated credit card; but how he used such a large sum of money is not yet known. Kim In-kyu, the president of KBS, worked as a media secretary for Myung-bak Lee (the current President of South Korea) during his presidential election campaign. After winning the presidency, President Lee appointed Kim as KBS's president. Bae Seok-ku, the president of YTN, is also suspected of illegal activities.
The presidents of the three broadcasting companies are accused of pressuring news reporters and producers of investigative programs to overlook politically sensitive issues and over-emphasize the administration's "achievements." The strike is chiefly demanding managements' resignation, a guarantee of political neutrality, and the right to investigate and report irregularities without sanction.
Problems caused by strike
Secondly, while the strikes were in progress, there were unfair broadcasts about the general election. people said, "It was the worst," because the content of the broadcasting failed to maintain neutrality. Seong Jae-ho, KBS's new labor union's director, said " It was the fires time KBS news coverage was partisan. On the whole, it delivered one opinion. It was a terrible broadcast for the general election campaign." Also Lee Jae-hoon, staff number of MBC democratic practice broadcasting board said, "MBC reports general election coverage in an unbalanced way. The ratio of coverage seems 50:50, but it is trick." Im Jang-hyeock, staff number of YTN Fair Broadcasting Practice Board said, "Coverage on electioneering and the state of affairs is important election coverage. Coverage about verification of policies and candidate is equally important. The problem is that they focus more on the electioneering than verification; which detracts from the real intention of the election coverage"
Dajeon-Chungnam Media Cultural Festival "achieves fair broadcasting by the power of citizens!"
'2012 Dajeon-Chungnam Media Cultural Festival was hosted at Dajeon Station on April 9. It was cohosted by the Labor Union, Dajeon MBC, and Dajeon KBS supported by Dajeon-Chungnam Media Labor Council and Dajeon Citizens Society United Council. Labor Unions of MBC and KBS held the Media Cultural Festival and demonstrated the will to fight. On this day, more than one Thousand people attended; including members of the labor union and citizens. Center stage, large letters read "MB Parachute Kim Jae-chul OUT," "MB Parachute Kim In-kyu OUT". There were other placards bearing "MBC comes back to you," "You are the KBS's owner," and "Achieve fair broadcasting by driving out MB parachute president." A video depicting the poor works environments of broadcasters was shown. There was also a hip-hop concert and singing performance prepared by members of KBS Daeon Labor Union. They accused presidents Kim Jae-chul and Kim In-kyu for unreasonable behavior through singing and dancing.
What is the right role of the media to play?
Broadcasters assert that they will create a place in which people can form a fair and right public opinion, without any outside pressures. But, strikes will seriously undermine the viewer's rights to watch programs. It is necessary and important to seek measures to put an end to strikes through dialogues. Also, the way of appointing new CEO needs to be modified. Ann agreement between labor union and management has to be reached quickly as possible. That's what the public wants to see very soon.
By Shin Ji-hye CP Reporter
oaxpr4974@cnu.ac.kr