ASSOCIATION OF TAIWAN JOURNALISTS

Founding date: 29 March 1995

About the ATJ

The Association of Taiwan Journalist (ATJ) is the first and only independent, non-governmental organization for Taiwanese professional journalists.

Since it was founded in 1995, the ATJ is committed to protect the working, legal and social rights and to promote professional ethics among reporters, editors and all other news workers in print, broadcasting, television or other media.

The ATJ is also committed to the struggle for news freedom, to raise professional standards, to protect the independence and autonomy of news workers and to fulfill the responsibilities of the news media as an institution for public interests.

Since 1998, the ATJ has been a full member of the International Federation of

Journalists (IFJ).

Origins

In July 1994, a protest movement was sparked by the transfer of ownership of the non-partisan "Independence Post" newspaper group into the hands of a ruling Kuomintang (National Party) politician. A group of reporters, concerned over whether the newspaper group would be able to maintain its long-standing editorial autonomy under the new owner established a cross-media "September 1st Task Force for Journalistic Autonomy.”

On September 1st (a national commemorative "Reporters' Day"), the task force organized Taiwan's first ever demonstration for journalistic independence since the lifting of martial law in 1988. In a driving rain, over 500 journalists, students and other persons concerned with press freedom called for the formation of an autonomous professional journalists' organization and a campaign to struggle for genuine editorial autonomy in media.

The "September 1st Task Force for Journalistic Autonomy" was the precursor to the Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ), which was founded on March 29, 1995.

Membership qualifications

* Ordinary members: Reporters, photographers, editors and freelance writers who depend mainly on news work for their livelihood.

* Student members: Students of university departments related to journalism.

* Associate members: Individuals who identify with the goals of the ATJ and do

not currently hold positions in government or political parties.

Membership

As of May 2004, the ATJ had over 500 members in Taiwan.

Organizational structure

* An annual members' congress is held every March to elect the ATJ's executive committee, standing executive committee, supervisors and president and to discuss matters concerning the association.

* The five-member ATJ standing executive committee meets monthly to promote ATJ activities.

* The 11-member executive committee meets every three months to deliberate on policy matters.

* The ATJ's three supervisors meet quarterly to monitor the work of executive committee.

* The ATJ has established a "disciplinary commission" to deliberate cases of violations of the association's principles and Covenant of Ethics for Journalists.

Journalistic self-discipline

The ATJ approved the Covenant of Journalistic Ethics on March 29, 1996 as the

guiding framework for the professional behavior of news workers in Taiwan; it

carried out campaigns for journalist self-discipline, such as the "Say

Goodbye to the `Red Envelope' Culture" movement (bribes or "gifts" are often enclosed in red envelopes in many south-east Asian societies).

Protection of Journalists

The ATJ has organized a team of 16 lawyers to provide free legal advice for

journalists and has set up a "Journalist Protection Fund" to supplement the legal expenses of news workers filing suit against unfair or illegal treatment. Since its foundation, the ATJ has helped in several legal cases involving violations of journalist working rights.

Financial Resources

* Membership fees: NT$2000 for initial membership, NT$1000 for annual renewal for full members and NT$500 a year for students.

* Contributions: No contributions of over NT$10,000 by any one individual or over NT$300,000 by any organization are accepted. (NT$33.6=US$1 in May 2004).

Officers

* First term (April 1995-March 1996)/ President: Mr Ho Jung-hsin, Vice Presidents Ms Cheryl Lai Shou-lu and Mr Karl Yang Ju-chun

* Second term (April 1996-March 1997)/ President: Mr Karl Yang Ju-chun, Vice Presidents Ms Sylvia Feng Hsien-hsien and Mr Chen Ching-chuan.

* Third term (April 1997-March 1998)/President: Mr Su Tzen-ping

* Fourth term (April 1998-March 1999)/ President: Mr Tseng Ming-tsai

* Fifth term (April 1999-March 2000)/ President: Mr Tseng Ming-tsai

* Sixth term (April 2000-March 2002)/ President: Mr Michael Yu Chia-chang.

* Seventh term (April 2002-March 2004)/ President: Ms Jean Shih Chin-wen

* Eighth term (April 2004-March 2006)/ President: Mr Tony Liu Tung-hsi

The Association of Journalists in Taiwan established ten departments to facilitate affairs:

Financial Affairs Department,

International Affairs Department,

Activity Department,

Research and Development Department,

Labor Affairs Department,

Publication Department,

Policy Department,

Fund-raising Department,

Campus Department,

Crisis-management Department.