Taiwan-Libertariansince1987 In 2008, of the 195 countries and territories included in the rankings, Taiwan was ranked 32nd, up one place from last year by Freedom House which rated each country's legal, political and economic environment, as well as the degree to which each of these factors affected media freedom. Function To inform, entertain, sell, discover truth and check on the government. The media policies the government to surface any wrong doing. Ownership
Taiwan's largest-circulation newspapers, the United Daily News and the China Times, are private enterprises, independent of government control. Newspapers published by the government and the ruling party have lost readership, profitability, and, most importantly, influence.
How are media controlled?
By 'self-righting process of truth' in 'free marketplace of ideas' and by court. Judicial system
Use of libel suits Antonio Chiang, publisher of the Taiwan Daily, said that, as a result of libel laws dating back to the 1930s, his main job was "to go to court." In a six-month period, the paper was sued three times for libel. This shows that although the island's fledgling democracy is actively breaking from its martial law past, the island's outdated libel laws are still on the statute-books.
Criminal libel suits Influential figures, particularly the rich and powerful use means like this to threaten, intimidate, and curtail the press from publishing reports which they consider offensive or revealing of their illegal activities. It can land a journalist in jail. This shows that judicial system is still widely viewed by the public as not yet totally independent and free from political or monetary influence.
Non-judicial system
Others Certain gangsters and politicians connected with organized crime have simply arranged to have investigative journalists beaten up or their property destroyed.
What is forbidden? Sedition On 14 April 2005, Taiwan authorities banned news agency Xinhua and the People's Daily for the journalists were contributing to misunderstandings between Taiwan and China, claimed Joseph Wu, the overall in charge of relations with China. They had done this through inaccurate articles that played down protest movements against the controversial 14 March 2005 anti-secession law that allows the use of force against Taiwan should it declare its independence.