Editorial: Journalists' Day? Bah humbug

Today is Journalists' Day, an annual event in Taiwan. The day couldn't have arrived at a more awkward moment -- as both the media's image and the government-media relationship continue to plummet, hitting new lows. As the importance of the fourth estate to a democratic society such as Taiwan cannot be overstated, it is urgent that both the media and the government make efforts to improve matters before they deteriorate beyond repair.

Only a few days ago Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) made a peculiar birthday wish -- "to see less of the media." Coming from a government official known for her composure, quick wit and ability to be articulate under heat, the weight of these words should not be ignored. This is not to mention that, less than two weeks ago, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) had publicly vowed after her trip to Indonesia that she would hence forth "keep her distance from the media."

On the other hand, this past Friday, members of the media gave Presidential Office Spokesperson James Huang (黃志芳), who was also celebrating his birthday, a cake shaped like Pinocchio with a very long nose. What a befitting gift. Only a few hours before Lu embarked on her trip to Indonesia, Huang was still openly denying the trip. Some of Lu's aides went as far as saying to reporters: "I'll give you my head if the vice president is going on the trip."

No wonder President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who was present when Huang received the birthday gift from reporters, called for a more constructive model of interaction with the media. We face, on the one hand, the public's right to know and to monitor the government via media reporting, and on the other, the government's pragmatic need to protect sensitive or classified diplomatic and national security information. How to search for a balance between these two vital interests is a pressing task for Taiwan. This is one issue about which even new American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal had expressed concern soon after taking office.

No constructive interaction can result if official government spokespersons publicly lie through their teeth the way Huang did. Once that is done, the person invariably becomes bankrupt in terms of credibility and can no longer speak authoritatively on behalf of government. The government's image is severely damaged in the process. In situations where secrecy must be maintained for the sake of highly sensitive matters, a "no comment" response or even a hide-and-seek game with the media to avoid giving a response would be preferred. If worse comes to worst, the government can always learn from the US and opt for a "game of ambiguous words."

On the other hand, the lack of professionalism by some members of the Taiwan media cannot be denied. One of the biggest problems plaguing Taiwan's media continues to be excessive sensationalism. A perfect example is the media's coverage of the love triangle between DPP lawmaker Cheng Yu-chen (鄭余鎮), his wife Lu Pei-ying (呂珮茵) and his aide Sophie Wang (王筱蟬). While admittedly Wang is not exactly a likeable person, the media had clearly gone overboard in trying to please readers eager to crucify the "bad woman" by digging up as much dirt as possible to demonize her. Few reporters bothered to conduct research and analyze the more worthwhile issues highlighted by the case -- the legal implications and the changing perceptions of the institution of marriage, to name a couple.

Hopefully, there will be more cause to celebrate Journalists' Day next year.