A Deutsche Welle (DW) representative yesterday called for cooperation among news outlets to counter the growing propaganda and censorship challenges posed by authoritarian regimes.
In a keynote speech at a forum in Taipei, Christoph Jumpelt, head of international relations at the German public broadcaster, called for cooperation among all news organizations that uphold democratic values, as independent journalism is under growing pressure worldwide.
“More countries are lacking free media, and journalism is being criminalized by [authoritarian] regimes who fear being held accountable,” Jumpelt said at the forum hosted by the Central News Agency as part of its centennial celebrations.
Photo: CNA
The dangers of such censorship were apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people faced harassment and mistreatment by authorities for challenging government narratives and warning the public of the health crisis, he said.
It is imperative to “restore fact-based reporting by independent media organizations and sustain the ability to reach all audiences around the world with reliable information,” he said.
Authoritarian governments have not only targeted independent media in their own countries, but have also sought to influence public opinion beyond their national borders, through increasingly more sophisticated propaganda, Jumpelt said.
That type of global outreach by countries such as China and Russia has expanded the “threat to free speech, objective information and democratic values” to “a new dimension,” he said.
As Taiwan continues to be targeted by Beijing through the media, the free press in Taiwan must work to keep its audience abreast of China’s intentions and “intimidating” mind games, he said.
“What [authoritarian] regimes have in common is their fear of a well-informed public,” he said. “This goes to show the power behind free media.”
Media outlets in democratic societies should not have to fight that battle alone, Jumpelt said, adding that they should join forces to counter propaganda and censorship, and improve access to objective information.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS