Newly established prize aims to be `Pulitzer' of Taiwan

New York-based veteran journalist Chang Chao-ying (張超英) and the Washington-based Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) have jointly established a freedom of speech prize aimed at encouraging media to improve quality and ethics.

Speaking a news conference held at the Legislative Yuan, FAPA chairman C.T. Lee (李青泰) said the prize, the FAPA Chang Chao-ying Prize for freedom of speech and media ethics, was envisioned as "a Pulitzer Prize of Taiwan."

Saying the media was "an index showing a country's freedom and democratic situation," Lee said that Chang, 74, donated NT$1 million for the establishment of the prize.

The prize would encourage journalists to maintain high standards of professionalism, to promote freedom of speech and to help improve the public's understanding of democratic values, Lee said.

He said FAPA would help select the annual prize winners and organize the award presentation ceremonies.

Lee said that a ceremony was scheduled to be held in Taipei tomorrow to mark the 25th anniversary of the organization's founding.

Established 1982, FAPA is a non-governmental organization that strives to promote international support for Taiwan's right to establish an independent and democratic country and to be recognized by and participate in international organizations.