Media guru defends himself online

Media figure Lin Kuei-you was accused by a PFP lawmaker as being the brains behind the Special Report series of VCDs. TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO

A prominent media figure has found a novel use for the Internet -- as a means to defending his good name.

Lin Kuei-you (林奎佑), better known as Yufu (魚夫), has more than 20 years of experience in both newspapers and television and is also an award-winning political satirist. Disappointed by what he saw as the "dumbing down" of the media, Lin retired from public life a year ago and redirected his focus to digital animation.

Little did Lin know, however, that his new-found sanctuary would be shattered in a burst of media exposure after People First Party Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) accused Lin of being the brains behind the controversial Special Report series of VCDs.

Lin started his journalism career in 1982 at the Chinese-language China Times before switching to The Independent Evening Post in 1987. In 1994, after the ban on setting up new media establishments was lifted, he helped found three TV stations and was the harbinger of call-in news talk shows in Taiwan.

"Some people have already learned to use VCDs and the Internet to voice their opinions, and this, I think, is truly the people's triumph."

Lin Kuei-you

"I am the founding father of TVBS, Super TV and SET TV, brought the TV call-in show to Taiwan," Lin said. "However, I became so disappointed with the low-standard of TV media that I declared my leave of absence a year ago."

That leave of absence was dramatically interrupted last month.

On Nov. 14, Chiu named Lin and three others as being the main figures behind Special Report. Although all four denied Chiu's accusation, the PFP lawmaker refused to retract his accusations and even threatened to take legal action.

On Nov. 21, however, an investigation carried out by Chiu revealed that the four did not participate in the production of the VCD, forcing the lawmaker to offer a public apology.

"My first response to the accusation was to turn of my cellphone and turn down all interview requests," Lin said. "From my professional journalism experience, I knew very well that the media was not interested in my clarification, but in the sensation of aggressive news reporting."

Instead, Lin sent two long and heartfelt letters to 1,700 people on his e-mail.

"Everyone on the mailing list is an acquaintance who I often forward my articles and satires to," Lin said. "In my time of crisis, this mailing list became a powerful weapon. If everyone on my mailing list forwarded my letters to two others, then a lot of people would have received my messages. Furthermore, the electronic media also heavily publicized my letters. Spreading an online clarification is just a way of defending oneself."

Lin's first letter, sent out the same day he heard Chui's accusation, described how he traced the origin of the rumor. To Lin's disappointment, he learned that it had been circulated by long-time media friends.

The letter read, "Dear friends, I was terribly saddened by the betrayal of certain old friends. In a society where everyone climbs on the bandwagon, how far should human nature be twisted?"

Six days later, Lin sent out his second letter, in which he criticized the media circus surrounding the accusations.

Lin wrote, "Only 5 percent of the Taiwanese population has actually watched Special Report, and yet those who have not watched the VCD series have made many commentaries on TV, where the words of James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Chiu become the basis of their commentaries. It is as if people who have never watched a movie branded the movie vulgar outside the cinema."

Lin felt that his ultimate vindication was down to the rising power of Internet users.

"Since I have given up my high-paying job at the TV station, fame does not appeal to me anymore, and yet I suddenly became the center of attention because of something said by a few politicians," Lin said. "I do not think I have benefited from such fame."

Lin said that by spreading information online, the Internet can outperform mainstream media outlets.

"Some people have already learned to use VCDs and the Internet to voice their opinions, and this, I think, is truly the people's triumph," Lin said. "It is a battle between David and Goliath."

Lin also said that the VCD incident showed that mainstream media influence is on the wane.

"To talk about who benefits the most in this event, I think it is better to say that the victory goes to the disintegration of the values held by the mainstream media," Lin said. "Long live the Internet!"

Although the ban on new media has been lifted, Lin said that freedom of speech still could not be fully exercised today.

"After the ban was lifted, many cable TV stations were established," he said. "However, when a group of youngsters decided to step out to poke fun at politicians and the media, they found themselves facing a slander lawsuit. Even though the current ruling party is the Democratic Progressive Party, the tyranny of the Chinese Nationalist Party still shrouds our society -- this is a national tragedy."

Lin claimed he had coined a new term to describe Taiwan's gossip-loving media.

"Taiwan's media lacks public discussion, and yet is full of stories about nobodies," he said. "For instance, between a story about a female legislator showing her belly in public and a story about labor insurance which affects the lives of millions of workers, the first made headlines. Do you think such a phenomenon is called true news reporting? I think Taiwan's media does not provide viewers with information nor entertainment, but infotainment."

In Lin's second e-mail, he highlighted the decline of the media.

"Most media outlets pick only the sensationalist elements to make up the stories they want to present," he wrote. "However, through the publicity of 4 million online friends, words spread like fire. As a result, I had some room to backslide. It is rather sad that the Internet was the only channel to save myself from this media embroilment, but this method is indeed quite effective."