Shen Boyang’s exclusive interview caused dissatisfaction in the blue camp. Lawyer Chen Yikai: Interviewing candidates with different positions is the essence of the media.

Wang Weizhong recently visited Shen Boyang. (Picture taken from "China Broadcast Popular Network i like radio" YT channel)

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang accepted an exclusive interview with host Wang Weizhong on the 10th of this month. As of 2:30 p.m. today, the video has exceeded 3.24 million views, breaking the popularity circle. At the same time, it caused dissatisfaction among some supporters of the blue camp, criticizing Wang as a "green Weizhong" and "a lifetime of fame is ruined." In this regard, lawyer Chen Yikai said helplessly, "It is really inexplicable for media people to criticize candidates because they interview them."

Chen Yikai posted an article on the fan blog "A Lawyer's Notebook" today, stating that media people and their main audiences can of course have their own positions, but since it is a "media", it is the nature of the media to invite candidates with different positions to explain their thoughts and express opinions on the program. "Otherwise, what's the difference between it and a unilateral propaganda machine? Whether it's good or not depends on the candidate's own ability."

Chen Yikai bluntly said that if one camp believes that it will gain traffic by appearing on a specific program, then the other camp can also actively strive to appear on the program to show its strength, right? He believes that if the program aroused social criticism for "rejecting candidates", then that would be fine; but now it is being attacked for inviting candidates with different stances. There will be such criticism, and the implication is: "We hope that media people will not give candidates with different stances a chance to explain, and completely prevent their opponents from being exposed."

Chen Yikai analyzed that the implicit meaning behind such criticism is nothing more than the hope that media people will not give competitors a chance to explain, in an attempt to completely prevent the other party from being exposed; but if you produce programs in compliance with this expectation, you will lose your media qualifications. He pointedly pointed out that such a reaction actually reflects that these critics have realized that the opponent's candidate is far better than their own candidate, but they just cannot admit it directly, which ultimately makes the unfortunate media people an outlet for their emotions.