Taiwan media has freedom of the press but...

On 28 August, Taiwanese entrepreneur Terry Gou held an international press conference to announce his bid for the Taiwan presidency in 2024. His announcement did not come as a surprise considering his actions - including visiting grassroots supporters, and trips to Kinmen and the US - since the Kuomintang (KMT) announced Hou You-yi as their presidential candidate on 17 May.

During the press conference, Gou criticised a Singaporean reporter from Lianhe Zaobao for having "picked up bad habits from Taiwan". The host of the event quipped, "We thank you all from the manufacturing industry", riffing on Gou's claims that the media would manufacture news out of thin air.

Gou's language and attitude towards journalists from the international media seem frivolous; such frivolity sheds some light on the difference between media outlets in Singapore and Taiwan.

Firstly, taking a look at the 2023 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders in May, Taiwan ranked 35th, leading the pack in Asia, while Singapore still remains in the "Difficult Situation" category, despite climbing to 129th from 140th place in 2005.

Perhaps it is as former Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong had said: Singapore's news editors and journalists play the role of being a communication channel between the government and the people, and thus they should strive to work with the government in pursuit of prosperity for the nation.

Hence, in the case of Singapore, it is perhaps more important for the media to consider how it can help the government operate more smoothly and with greater efficiency, than to be preoccupied with uncovering the truth or seeking justice. This also explains why Singapore, a country that generally ranks highly in global metrics across all fields, would fare so poorly when it comes to press freedom. It is up to one to decide if this is for better or for worse.

Reporters Without Borders noted that Taiwan "is a liberal democracy... that generally respects the principles of media freedom but its journalists suffer from a very polarised media environment dominated by sensationalism and the pursuit of profit." This assessment raises concerns about total freedom for the press.

In comparison, the media in Singapore is meticulous and serious about the subjects it covers, and is a source of reference for politicians to get a sense of opinions. In Taiwan, under the banner of press freedom, media outlets have their own perspective but the yardsticks have been lost. Viewers and listeners only believe media outlets with similar positions as themselves, weeping and rejoicing in an echo chamber of like-minded voices.

Unfortunately, it is near impossible to find a media outlet in Taiwan that is truly trustworthy and adheres to clear standards of right and wrong.

When the local media loses the trust of the public, we turn towards media outlets such as the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Economist that are a cut above what Taiwan has, and reference their content to boost our own credibility. However, this is a sign that Taiwan no longer has a media outlet that viewers and listeners truly trust.

In Taiwan, the same piece of news can be reported in very different ways. When one media emphasises zero tolerance for black money and drunk driving, the other would call for giving ex-convicts a second chance.

Not only that, media outlets also blatantly fight for government projects and approach businesses with proposals for placement marketing i.e., advertising in the form of news reporting. When you wear outfits and spend money gifted by others, how can you still claim to be "independent" and "fair"?

Just because Taiwan's press freedom ranks among the world's best, it does not mean that there is freedom of speech that allows one to spout whatever one wishes. Nor does it mean that Taiwan's news would be trustworthy, fair and objective.

The content of Taiwan's media reports are now based on the positions they adopt and whatever tickles their fancy. It has become a situation where one is either a staunch believer or non-believer.

Even though Taiwan's press freedom ranks first in Asia, we dare not claim that our news is fair, objective and credible. We can only trumpet press freedom, and cling on to "freedom of speech and press "like sacrosanct lines never to be crossed.

"Elite media" naturally exist in Taiwan. Yet, Business Weekly dented its own credibility after publishing a report with an "exclusive leak" using ellipsis ("点点点") to represent the political views of KMT presidential candidate Hou You-yi, taking a jibe at him for being unopinionated. What could have been an interesting article has instead turned callous with a joke made in poor taste.

When Taiwan's political news becomes "Tiktok-esque" and is presented like a variety show or by online influencers, how would we proceed? The future is worrisome.

This article was first published in Lianhe Zaobao as "从郭台铭调侃记者看新台媒体差异".

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