The decline of English language newspapers in Taiwan

[Eric_W_Lier]

Why don’t local English newspapers cover local issues that affect their readers?

“The whole news environment is changing,” he said. Because of the Internet and overseas cable and satellite TV channels, “there’s a diminishing need for news of the world to come from Taiwan-based media. People have more options.” “The English-language media won’t go away,” he asserted. “Different sections of society need it for different reasons. ICRT, for instance, has a crucial role during typhoons and earthquakes.” Mindich pointed out that ICRT remains the only medium that reports breaking local news on a day-to-day basis, be it business in the Legislative Yuan or the capture of a wanted criminal.

publish.gio.gov.tw/FCJ/current/06080441.html

[bismarck]

Eric, you may have a very valid point. It’s also true that they don’t really (if at all) cover issues that may affect us expats. On the other hand, the first six months I spent in Taiwan was in a little village out in the mountains of Kaohsuing county. I had no contact with foreigners, everyone spoke Taiwanese and there were no English magazines, books or newspapers anywhere to be seen. I didn’t even know of things like ICRT, that English newspapers were available in Taiwan (I just thought - from what I saw on a daily basis - that being a Chinese country these things were just not available here) or English forums like Forumosa and tealit.

When I moved to Tainan I was so suprised and bought a car loads worth of magazines and newspapers. It was just such a thrill to be able to read things in English again. On a trip to Taipei I was even more awestruck by the amount of English materials available on a daily basis.

Now I don’t really even read the English newspapers anymore. I read my news online and watch the local English news channel on TV.

[tempogain]

[quote=“Eric W. Lier”]Why don’t local English newspapers cover local issues that affect their readers?

[/quote]

i always figured it was because it is too embarrassing.

[quote]
“The English-language media won’t go away,” he asserted. "Different sections of society need it for different reasons. " [/quote]

for me, sopping up the extra moisture from the slippers on leaving the bathroom.

[Serial_Killer_On_Par]

@bismarck

Now I don’t really even read the English newspapers anymore. I read my news online and watch the local English news channel on TV.

Yep good news channels like SABCA Mnet & Sky News for Bismark… who needs CNN ??