The Taiwan Alliance for the Self-Regulation of Online News (TASON) was launched yesterday, coinciding with Taiwan’s Journalists’ Day, with 23 media outlets signing on as founding members.
The alliance said at a news conference that it aims to safeguard online news freedom in Taiwan through the principles of truth, professionalism, self-regulation, transparent oversight and digital accountability.
It urged more outlets to join in fostering a truthful, professional and trustworthy digital news environment.
Photo: CNA
Amid intensifying competition in an algorithm-driven media landscape, TASON said it would build a governance platform that combines internal oversight with citizen participation.
The platform would feature systematic standards, transparent complaint and correction mechanisms, and collaboration among information stakeholders to improve the quality and credibility of reporting.
Lin Wen-chun (林妏純), convener of the alliance and editor-in-chief of ETtoday’s news department, said in a pre-recorded video that the alliance represents a reconstruction of media values, adding that journalism should not be measured solely by click-through rates.
Hakka Radio chief and alliance deputy coordinator Chuang Sheng-hung (莊勝鴻) said that Taiwan’s media face a trust crisis, as outlets often cross ethical boundaries in pursuit of higher click-through rates.
Taiwan’s media face a crisis of declining trust, as outlets frequently cross ethical boundaries in pursuit of higher click-through rates. The alliance expressed hope that its framework would help restore credibility and strengthen the role of Taiwanese journalism.
Andy Y.H. Liang (梁永煌), publisher of the Chinese-language Business Today, said that as the “fourth estate,” news media have a duty to regulate themselves.
“The subjects of news reports should be treated fairly, which is why the alliance has established a complaint channel to expand public participation and help journalists earn greater respect,” he said.
Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) said that as an engineer who worked in the high-tech sector, he only learned about online news through his friends active in student movements.
“Does false information on the Internet count as press freedom? This is what we need to discuss, and one that calls for self-regulation,” he said.
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