More than 100 communications scholars signed a petition on Sunday in protest of the government's practice of buying news coverage for the promotion of policies, which was recently brought to public attention through the resignation statement of an ex-China Times senior journalist. These experts also demand the news media to stick to their principles and uphold the values of the profession.

When reading newspaper or watching TV, you might not know that the news that you read or watch is actually embedded with advertising.

It could be the government's effort to beautify its image, using taxpayers' money.

The government has engaged placement marketing activities to the extent that communications scholars found it difficult to believe.

Therefore 128 professors from 41 communication programs signed a joint petition to oppose the government's engagement in placement market and news with embedded advertising messages.

They criticize that the placement market platform began when Chen Shui-bian was in the office and the Ma administration is doing it even more, which serious sataboges Taiwan's democracy.

Former NCC commissioner Lin Tung-tai suggests the Control Yuan to begin its investigation. Scholars urged the media companies to contain themselves while criticizing that the government is cheating the public, causing the media industry to deform.

The scholars asked the government to quickly write laws to prohibit such practice and urged the public to pay close attention to the matter.