The online confessions of former China Times journalist, Huang Zhe-bin, who recently resigned in protest of the over-commercialization of print media, have attracted thousands of supporters of his cause on the Internet. They demand the government stop interfering with news coverage through commercial means and restore the dignity of the press.

It has become increasingly hard for people to discern what they see or read in the news is actual news, and what is advertisments or product placements by governmental units or business corporations.

Believing that journalists and the media should uphold their principles and the public's trust, seasoned journalist, Huang Zhebin, wrote a resignation letter and bid farewell to his 16 years and 5 months post at the news agency he worked at.

In recent years, news articles have become a commodity, valued at 100 NT dollars per word.

Or a whole article could be purchased at up to 100 thousand NT dollars.

The dual role of the journalists is causing a conflict of interest that has disheartened many in the media industry.

According to findings, government advertisements in 2009 have reached 1.7 billion NT dollars, up twenty percent from the year before.

Meanwhile corporate advertisements reached up to 600 million NT dollars.

Journalists point out that during the election campaign, President Ma stated his support in stopping product placement.

However, it seems that the trend wave has only gotten more intense.

The departure of Huang Zhebin has reignited the public's determination to stop media payolas.

Media reformist groups are not discounting the possibility of parading to draw the government's attention to this matter.

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