`Taipei Times' celebrates anniversary

As the Taipei Times enters its fourth year, Lin Rong-san (林榮三), founder of the newspaper, yesterday encouraged the newspaper's staff to strive for excellence.

"The Times has achieved much during these past three years," Lin told his employees at a lunch party at the Howard Plaza Hotel to celebrate the the paper's third anniversary.

"Yet there is much more we need to work on as we proceed with our effort to produce a quality product for our readers."

Launched on June 15, 1999, with its founding principle to "bring Taiwan to the world and the world to Taiwan," the Taipei Times is an affiliate of the Liberty Times.

Restating the Taipei Times' vision, Lin added that the paper would extend its scope to appeal more to local readers.

"Since the launch of the Taipei Times, it has become an optimal channel for the international community to hear Taiwan's voice as well as to learn more about Taiwan," Lin said. "As we celebrate the newspaper's third anniversary, the newspaper will work to encompass more readership from local youth."

Lin was referring to the fact that, starting tomorrow, the Times will present its readers with a new layout. The new-look paper will include a bilingual section called "Youth Central" that will cater to local young people.

"I've never failed in all the things I've done, nor given up halfway on things I've started," said Lin over a toast to Taipei Times employees.

"And I hereby encourage all to keep up the good work and to strive for the best."

Committed to bringing readers the finest reports with quality editing and design, the Taipei Times has been recognized with several notable awards since its launch.

In 2000 the paper was a finalist in the Society for News Design's competition for "World's Best-Designed" newspaper.

Last year the Times won the society's "World's Best Designed"prize, while this year it was given an award of excellence by the society.

As well as being recognized for its professional design, several members of the Times team have also seen their talents recognized. Last year, staff writer Ethan Harkness and staff reporter Ian Bartholomew both won the First Annual Literary Translation Contest, which was sponsored by the Council for Cultural Affairs.

Last year, staff reporter Chiu Yu-tzu (邱育慈) won the National Press Council Foundation's (新聞媒體自律協會) Outstanding Journalist Award, marking the first time such an award was handed to a reporter of an English-language daily.

Staff reporter Monique Chu (朱明琴) won the same award this year.

The Taipei Times is available nationwide and is available to a worldwide audience on the Internet at www.taipeitimes.com.