Media Issues

Associated Press CEO meets with Chinese state media ahead of China-led propaganda-fest World Media Summit

Associated Press President and CEO Daisy Veerasingham shakes hands with Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

President and CEO of Associated Press, Daisy Veerasingham, met with President of Xinhua News Agency, Fu Hua, in Beijing Sunday, August 13, and said that AP is open to discussions with Xinhua on news exchanges ahead of the 5th World Media Summit later this year, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported. Both Fu and Veerasingham commended the more than 50 year history of cooperation between [Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece] Xinhua and AP. Fu expressed the hope that the two sides

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Two people died of COVID today? That’s not what the CDC said

Chen Shih-chung CECC press briefing Friday 13 August 2021
Health and Safety Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 today “and two deaths from the disease,” wrote news outlet Focus Taiwan, following the CDC Central Epidemic Command Center’s press briefing and press release today, Friday, August 13. But the CDC did not say that two people had died of COVID-19. The CDC press release clearly stated that there were two deaths among the confirmed cases. Furthermore, the CDC provided details about the two deaths stating that case 8852 was a man in

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Hong Kong’s public broadcasting service purged of democratic voices: journalist who challenged WHO with Taiwan question resigns

Hong Kong journalist Yvonne Tong and WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward interview March 2020
Media Issues Regional 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

The host of an English language news and current affairs program on Hong Kong’s public broadcasting service who questioned a WHO bureaucrat about Taiwan’s lack of membership in the organization has resigned, according to reports including Hong Kong Media outlet The Standard, March 12. The host of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) program The Pulse, Yvonne Tong, had been dogged by pro-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) organizations since asking assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, Bruce Aylward, whether WHO would

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Taipei Newspaper Association wants people to pay for news: urges government to help with relevant legislation

newspaper and notebook computer
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Taipei Newspaper Association called on the government to help change consumers perception that news should be free, saying that the rise of digital media has affected newspaper business operations. The call was made at a symposium titled “Digital Platforms, Content Websites and Online Advertising Industry Ecology and Disputes,” held by the Fair Trade Commission today, April 12. The symposium was attended by representatives from print newspapers, magazine publishers, online media, and a number of experts and scholars in the

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China-based Taiwanese White House reporter to be investigated by Taiwan authorities

Taiwanese born reporter Chang Ching-yi and US President Donald Trump
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A reporter for a Chinese state-owned media group who deceptively answered “Taiwan” when US President Donald Trump asked him where he was from during a White House press briefing last week, will be investigated by the relevant authorities, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said today. Last Wednesday, April 8, Chang Ching-yi was attending a regular White House press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic when the President asked him where he was from. While the Taiwan born and educated Chang did

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Reporters Without Borders concerned new suicide prevention law could affect media freedom

Reporters Sans Frontières Taiwan
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Freedom of information NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to amend a regulation that RSF believes could prevent media from covering suicide cases. RSF made the call in an article published on March 6 ahead of a March 10 deadline on public consultation over the new Suicide Prevention Act. The new law includes articles designed to prevent sensationalist reporting that may create copycat suicides, particularly among teenagers and youth. RSF believes that

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ICAO blocks debate about Taiwan’s exclusion from pandemic-prevention efforts

ICAO headquarters
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has blocked social media users who are calling for Taiwan’s participation in the joint WHO-ICAO efforts to help curb the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Many Twitter accounts have been blocked by the organization, including those of Congressional staff, D.C.-based analysts, academics, and journalists, according to a report in AXIOS. “Taipei is an international transit hub, and Taiwan’s exclusion means it can’t take part in information sharing and logistical planning as the coronavirus spreads.” The

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Facebook to open ‘war room’ for upcoming Taiwan presidential elections

Facebook election war room 2018
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

For the first time, social media giant Facebook will set up a ‘war room’ to counter misinformation and interference in in the upcoming Taiwan presidential election, January 11. Taiwan’s Central News Agency quoted an “industry insider” as saying that Facebook is setting up a war room in the Asia Pacific headquarters of Taipei and Singapore, and will begin operations after January 1. The war room will bring together members of different departments, including Facebook’s public policy, political advertising, content review,

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Rescued Hiker Hits Back at Media Circus

Lee Minghan speaks to media at a press conference June 28
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments ,

A man rescued after spending more than a month in Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range has attempted to clarify statements he allegedly made at a press conference June 28. Taiwan’s Chinese language media panned the mountain hiker as being ungrateful, and even undeserving of rescue after he allegedly criticized rescue services, refused to pay for his costly rescue, and said that he will travel in the mountains alone again after he has recovered his physical fitness. New Taipei City resident Lee

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National Geographic Lists Taiwan as Part of China

national geographic magazine list including Taiwan as part of China
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

National Geographic has ranked Taiwan #48 in its 2017 list of the 100 best travel destinations. However, the magazine has incensed Taiwan readers by listing the country as part of China. Members of the Facebook group Taiwan Passport Sticker posted pictures of the magazine and urged readers to protest on National Geographic’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Reader, Phoenix Chang wrote: “Looks like there are going to be lots of families trying to get Taiwanese visas at Chinese embassies and fail.

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The Presidential Private Parts Controversy

Ma Ying-jeou warming up for a race at National Tsing-hua University in Taiwan
Media Issues Politics 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

A controversy erupted yesterday, Saturday April 23, when a picture was uploaded to Facebook which allegedly showed out-going President Ma Ying-jeou with his private parts exposed while he was warming up for a road race. The story of the compromising photograph being disseminated on the Internet led President-elect Tsai Ing-wen to issue a statement on her own Facebook page exhorting the media and individuals not to report on or show the picture, as it compromised the dignity of the office

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