Preface
Newspapers, magazines, radio, and television--the ever-present
media--inform and entertain the people of the Republic of China. And
just as they are ever-present, performing vital functions in a free
society, the media is also ever-changing. Technological breakthroughs,
economic prosperity, and political liberalization have been the driving
forces of Taiwan's media transition during the democratic era.
However, these changes could not have been effected without the
concerted efforts of both the government and the people of the Republic
of China. It has taken an energetic, well-trained, and resourceful
private sector, combined with astute, far-sighted, and responsive
government policies, to accelerate the advancement of media quality and
productivity.
Taiwan's Media in the Democratic Era traces media progress over a
period of five decades. From the early days of a war-ravaged,
subsistence agricultural island, under constant military threat; to the
current vibrant, high-tech, information-based democratic society,
Taiwan has made remarkable accomplishments in media development. In the
future, Taiwan's role as an Asia-Pacific media center will further
enhance media effectiveness and efficiency for the benefit of not only
the citizens of the Republic of China, but also hundreds of millions of
people in the Asia-Pacific region.
C. J. Chen
Director-General
Government Information Office
