Taipei Times: Why did you choose Taiwan to establish your new business?
Jimmy Lai (黎智英): When Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
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.
But things are different nowadays. Society is rapidly opening up and democratizing. Readers long for different options. The Media are individualized and more market oriented.
In the past, readers relied on the media. They bought the newspaper because they needed information. They read whatever you offered. It is like living in poverty-stricken times -- people eat to survive, so they eat whatever's available.
But in an information-driven society, the media are turned into a consumers' market. They want to eat, not just because they are hungry, it is more because they think it tastes good. This is the direction the media must move forward to -- listen to what readers need and what they don't.
For instance, political news tends to be considered the most important news in Taiwan but, for the general public, some medical information is probably needed much more than what President Chen says. But the change in media has not kept upwith the changing needs of the public.
Another aspect of making myself different from the local media is that I won't compromise. I won't compromise with any political forces, neither will I concede to the threat of organized crime groups. My goal is to present the truth.
I think a good publication has to be constantly aware of what people genuinely care about and need. To achieve this end, I will continue to use the "focus group" -- a strategy I use in Hong Kong that has proven to be successful. It refers to sample groups of readers whom we consult after they read our stories. We retain what they like, and eliminate what they don't. It has been the most efficient way for us to keep track of readers' preferences.
TT: What is the selling point of your magazine?
Lai: Quality news. We have 200 employees -- the biggest staff [in the publishing arena] in Taiwan, which makes internal competition extremely keen. We've provided more resources to write up a story, and more time to do research, interviews and follow up. We try to brainstorm different approaches to write a story.
The attitude of Taiwan reporters has to be modified. They are generally more passive and detached.
We can't feel personal feelings, personal values and personal judgments in their stories. But you can't strike a chord with readers if you are detached from your stories. We have to be more active and involved, putting ourselves into the stories. My concept of journalism will help elevate the quality of the magazine, because what is essential to the media is not quantity, but quality.
TT: Hiring paparazzi to uncover crime and scandal has always been a center of controversy. People often accuse paparazzi of infringing on the human rights of celebrities. Do you consider it the best way to present quality news to readers?
Lai: I am not entitled to answer this question because only readers know if that's the best way. We are not using paparazzi in Taiwan. Taiwan is, after all, not Hong Kong. I do not intend to duplicate everything from Hong Kong to Taiwan.
But we sure will adhere to "the spirits of paparazzi;" namely, resorting to any means in quest of the truth. We don't want a superficial story; we want to dig more and more.
In Taiwan, we use paparazzi as gimmicks for our promotion. I know people fear them, but taking them as a gimmick is the right tactic.
TT: Do you think Taiwan society, especially Taiwan's publishers, welcome your arrival?
Lai: They don't really welcome my coming.
They concede that the publishing media have to go through reforms, but they also feel that the changes I am making in Taiwan's media gives them trouble. They think I am disturbing the market, and also their old styles. But what people say or think is not important to me.
I have frequently been a center of controversy, but I don't care. What's more important is our final product.
TT: Have you thought about what your next destination will be?
Lai: No, I am not the sort of person who plans for the future. I want to tackle the current difficulties, and make sure what I am doing is moving on the right path. I like to take one step at a time. I never think about the future. Nobody knows what will happen in the future, why bother thinking about it?
I have gradually consolidated all my overseas investments to Taiwan.
I think it is the right thing to do. I am very optimistic about Taiwan's prospects. I believe they will be very prosperous.
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