Ethical journalism is the bottom line for responsible media outlets, a prominent media academic told a forum in Taipei yesterday.
"Good quality journalism is good business," said Doreen Weisenhaus, a lawyer and director of the University of Hong Kong's Media Law Project, during the forum entitled "Responsible Media in Democracy," hosted by the Lung Ying-tai Cultural Foundation.
Weisenhaus, a former legal and city editor for the New York Times, cited a controversy over former New York Times reporter Jayson Blair in emphasizing the importance of credibility and reputation for news agencies.
Blair was forced to resign from the newspaper in May 2003 after he was caught plagiarizing and fabricating material he used in his stories.
Weisenhaus said she was in charge of the newspaper's internship program when Blair was a summer intern in 1998.
Blair was a rising star because of his writing talents, she said. But his unique way of working confused her.
"He never left the newsroom," Weisenhaus said.
"As a reporter, you must go out into the field, gather your information and write your stories. But he spent lots of time flattering his supervisors in the newsroom," she said.
Weisenhaus said she believed that audiences and readers have the power to shut down a news agency if it goes way over the line in its reporting.
Weisenhaus said that in November 2002 the Hong Kong weekly magazine East Week was forced to close after a massive protest and petition by Hong Kong entertainers.
The magazine had published nude pictures of actress Carina Lau (
East Week resumed publication in late 2003.
"Commercialism is not necessarily evil," she said.
"To make profits out of a newspaper, you have to invest, too. But a newspaper's profits must be established on its solid credibility," Weisenhaus said.
Chunghwa Telecom Foundation CEO Hsu Lu (
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take
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