To protect Taiwan's freedom of the press, the Ministry of the Interior has agreed to reword a proposed amendment to the Children and Youth Welfare Act regarding crime reporting, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said June 7.
The original wording of the amendment, outlawing the reporting of the grisly details of a crime in printed news, caused controversy in local media.
Jiang expressed support for suggestions made by members of the media for clearer wording after meeting with the Taipei Newspaper Association and representatives of Taiwan’s major newspaper outlets, including Huang Su-chuan, assistant general manager of the United Daily News; Chang Ching-wei, assistant editor-in-chief of the China Times; Tu Nien-chung, publisher of Apple Daily; and Wu Jun-yan, assistant editor-in-chief of The Liberty Times.
“We are finding a balanced way to protect children and youth while respecting the freedom of the press to act for the public good,” Jiang said.
At the heart of the controversy is Article 44 of the proposed amendment, which bans newspaper from carrying content that “may do harm to the mental and physical health of children and youth.” Such content includes stories and pictures describing “crime, suicide or the use of drugs,” as well as those that depict “violence, bloodshed, pornography, obscenity or forced sex in detail.”
The TNA had strongly protested the use of the word “crime” and other very general terms, arguing it would curb Taiwan’s press freedom and infringe on the public’s right to know.
Jiang said the word “crime” would be taken out, and a proviso adopted making an exception for newspapers’ proper use of official documents released by judiciary and administrative agencies regarding offenses involving minors.
In response, the TNA promised to step up efforts to establish a self-regulatory press commission and code of practice.
The MOI’s proposed amendment is still subject to approval by the Legislature. (THN)