Jimmy Lai preparing the `Next' step

Taipei Times: Why did you choose Taiwan to establish your new business?

Jimmy Lai (黎智英): When Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) got elected as president last year, I saw that democracy in Taiwan was irreversible. It has become a true democracy. Taiwan is very important to China at this stage because the island state has the only democracy in Chinese history. [Chen's victory] was a really exciting moment for Chinese, which also fulfilled the longing for those championing liberty and democracy [like myself].

Therefore, the night Chen was elected, I told my wife that we had to move to Taiwan.

Taiwan, as a democratic state, will be a great influence on China politically. Hong Kong has been an impetus to China, but mainly on the economic front. But if China aims to be more open, it has to reshape its political system. Hong Kong can't play a role in that regard, but Taiwan can.

Taiwan is a place where many Chinese people live with Chinese culture and Chinese democracy. It will be the future of China and will be a powerful catalyst for China to follow its path. When Taiwan serves a pivotal part in this transition, the region will naturally become an international media focus. Whatever happens in Taiwan, there will be an impact on China, and any changes made in China will have an impact on the world.

So Taiwan will be a place where media people will like to come, and I want to be here to witness the changes.

TT: To compete in a highly saturated and flourishing media market, what are the odds of succeeding?

Lai: I see an opportunity here. I don't completely concur when people say Taiwan's media business is booming, because they've ignored the vitality of its publishing industry.

The reason why the media fail in Taiwan is because of a wide gap between Taiwan's media and its readers.

In a fast-changing society, the media have to fully satisfy readers' needs so as to keep the business viable. Readers have become very demanding about the media.

But since Taiwan's media are shackled with past habits, past investments, past relationships, past authorities and a past sense of mission, it fails to keep abreast of the swift changing pace of society and the needs of its people.

A gap [between the media and readers] is consequently formed, but that gap also provides an opportunity.

TT: Does Taiwan's sagging economy worry you?

Lai: I don't worry about recession. Taiwan won't vanish, and it won't be in recession forever.

From a different angle, it is exactly the best time to invest because everything is at its lowest point. The market is most receptive to reforms when things are awry, and readers are also more inclined to adjust their reading habits when the current media can't meet their demands. You can't find better timing [than now] to enter the market.

TT: How do you distinguish yourself from the local media?

Lai: I am trying to understand the needs of Taiwan's readers. In the past, the media in Taiwan were a leading, yet rather controlled domain. The media provided you with the information that they considered important, but on the other hand, it was also greatly manipulated by political factors, or the whims of owners. The media very often had to make compromises.

So Taiwan's readers were compelled to take in "previously-sifted" information, and often the whole perspective of selection was looking through what was good for the country and for the society.