I would like to hereby thank the local news media for all its recent attention on me. With respect to the discussions created by an internal memo sent by myself to my co-workers at the Taipei Times, I have neither new comments nor new input to add.
Throughout this incident, the only regrettable thing is the South China Morning Post's reporting of something that never happened.
The reporter, Tim Culpan, quoted an anonymous reporter as saying "I was told that if I write anything against the DPP or `too Blue' that I would be fired," which is complete nonsense and very irresponsible and vicious reporting. No editor-in-chief can ever speak to his or her subordinates either openly or in private in this way.
The South China Morning Post's freelance reporter Tim Culpan previously worked as a copy editor at the Taipei Times.
I do not wish to speculate whether he was in fact being personally vindictive over any matter in particular.
However, it is a fact that the Taipei Times has indeed rejected news stories he submitted for publication after his departure.
Rick Chu
Chief Editor, Taipei Times
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